EU Auditors present report on the EU trade sanctions on Russia

On Tuesday 10 November, the European Court of Auditors (ECA) will publish a special report on EU trade sanctions against the Russian Federation.

About the topic

The EU uses restrictive measures such as trade sanctions to put pressure on Russia – and on various parties in countries that support the war, such as Belarus, Iran and North Korea – and so diminish its ability to wage war against Ukraine. The sanctions aim to impede the development of Russia’s defence sector by restricting access to the equipment it needs for its military systems and denying its access to EU markets. Since February 2022, the EU has progressively imposed 21 sanctions packages on Russia. Although member states play a key role in enforcing sanctions, the cross-policy nature of trade sanctions means there is a need for complex coordination with EU institutions.

About the audit

The ECA examined the EU trade sanctions against Russia that the Council of the EU adopted in response to Russia’s war on Ukraine, including attempts to circumvent them. The auditors focused on the European Commission’s role in establishing an appropriate implementation framework, monitoring implementation, identifying and addressing weaknesses and loopholes, and assessing the overall impact. The audit looked at sanctions on traded goods except for energy, rather than financial sanctions or those related to services or other restrictive measures such as travel bans.​​

The ECA press office will hold an online briefing on Tuesday 10 November 2026. The ECA Member responsible for the report is Mihails Kozlovs.