The EU Council decided today to add Al Azaim Media Foundation to the EU autonomous list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda, and therefore subject to EU restrictive measures.
Al Azaim Media Foundation is the media branch of the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province.
With today’s decision, the autonomous list of those associated with ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda comprises a total of 15 persons and 7 groups. Those targeted are subject to an asset freeze, which includes a prohibition on EU persons and operators from making funds or economic resources available to the listed persons and groups. The persons listed are also subject to a travel ban.
Today’s decision reconfirms the EU’s resolve in countering the continued terrorist threat posed by Al-Qaeda, ISIL/Da’esh and their regional affiliates. The EU remains committed to taking decisive action against those who continue to threaten international peace and security by planning, financing and committing terrorist attacks, and by spreading their deadly terrorist propaganda around the world.
The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU.
Background
As of September 2016, the EU can autonomously impose sanctions against ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them.
The EU autonomous restrictive measures are complementary to those imposed by the UN Security Council against ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda.
On 8 October 2024, the Council prolonged existing restrictive measures against ISIL(Da’esh), Al-Qaeda and natural and legal persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them for a further year, until 31 October 2025.
- Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/514 of 17 March 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them
- Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 of 20 September 2016 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them and repealing Common Position 2002/402/CFSP (Consolidated text 31 October 2024)
- ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaeda: EU sanctions regime renewed until 31 October 2025 (press release 8 October 2024)
- Sanctions against terrorism (background information)
Source – EU Council: Visit the meeting page