# European Union sanctions

An essential tool of the EU's Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) are restrictive measures, also known as "sanctions". They are utilized by the EU as a component of a coordinated and all-encompassing policy approach that includes political discussion, complementary actions, and the use of other tools at its disposal.
In order to advance the CFSP's goals, sanctions aim to change the behavior or policy of those who are targeted. They may be addressed to governments of non-EU nations because of their policies; to entities (companies) which provide a means to carry out the targeted policies; groups or organizations, such as terrorist organizations; and people who support the targeted policies or who engage in terrorist activities, etc.

## Targeted parties
### Countries/governments

| Country | Year introduced | Summary |
| Afghanistan | 2021 | Sanctions against the Taliban government |
| Belarus | 2005 | Sanctions against those affiliated with the Alexander Lukashenko government including Lukashenko |
| Burundi | 2015 | Sanctions against Burundian government officials who are deemed to undermine democracy. |
| China | 2021 | Over alleged human rights abuses on the Uyghurs in Xinjiang |
| Iran | 2011 | Restrictive measures in view of Iran's military support of Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine and Restrictive measures in relation to serious human rights violations in Iran |
| Mali | 2021 | Sanctions against government officials who took part in the 2021 Malian coup d'état |
| Myanmar | 2021 | Sanctions against the Burmese Junta in relation to 2021 Myanmar coup d'état. Sanctions include those against Min Aung Hlaing |
| Nicaragua | 2019 | Restrictions against the Daniel Ortega government in view of the continuing deterioration of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Nicaragua. |
| Niger | 2023 | Sanctions over 2023 Nigerien coup d'état |
| North Korea | 2016 | Measures in place due to North Korea's Nuclear program and situation of human rights in North Korea |
| Russia | 2014 | Sanctions over violating the territorial integrity of Ukraine. Sanctioned individuals include Russian President Vladimir Putin and Russia's Minister for Foreign Affairs, Sergey Lavrov |
| Syria | 2013 | Sanctions against the Bashar al-Assad government including Assad himself over alleged human rights violations in the Syrian Civil War |
| Transnistria | 2003 | Sanctions over undermining the territorial integrity of the Republic of Moldova. |
| Crimea Donetsk People's Republic Luhansk People's Republic | 2014 | Sanctions over undermining the territorial integrity of Ukraine. |
| Venezuela | 2017 | Restrictions against the Nicolas Maduro government in view of the continuing deterioration of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Venezuela. |
| Zimbabwe | 2002 | Restrictions against the ZANU-PF government in view of the continuing deterioration of democracy, the rule of law and human rights in Zimbabwe. |

### Other Sanctions

| Country | Year introduced | Summary |
| Bosnia and Herzegovina | 2011 | Although it does not currently apply to any specific people, it gives the EU a framework for imposing penalties on people who endanger the security and integrity of Bosnia and Herzegovina. Individuals whose actions undermine the sovereignty may be subject to the restrictive measures outlined in the Regulations. |
| Central African Republic | 2013 | Restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of the Central African Republic, or for undermining democracy or the rule of law in the Central African Republic. |
| Democratic Republic of the Congo | 1993 | Restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of the Congo, or for undermining democracy or the rule of law in the Congo. |
| Guatemala | 2024 | In view of the persistent attempts to nullify the democratic results of the general and presidential elections in Guatemala, which resulted in a clear victory of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo, as attested by the EU Election Observation Mission (EOM) to Guatemala. |
| Guinea | 2009 | Restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of Guinea, or for undermining democracy or the rule of law in Guinea. |
| Guinea-Bissau | 2012 | EU restrictive measures against Guinea-Bissau were introduced on 3 May 2012. Travel restrictions and an asset freeze were imposed targeting those who sought to prevent or block a peaceful political process or who took action that undermined stability in the Republic of Guinea-Bissau, in particular those who played a leading role in the mutiny of 1 April 2010 and the coup d’état of 12 April 2012. The measures also target those who sought to undermine the rule of law, curtailing the primacy of civilian power and furthering impunity and instability in the country. |
| Haiti | 2023 | Restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of Haiti, or for undermining democracy or the rule of law in Haiti. |
| Iraq | 2003 | Currently, only specific restrictions apply in the areas of trade in goods belonging to Iraq's cultural heritage and an asset freeze specifically targeting former Iraqi President Saddam Hussein, his immediate family, and senior officials of his regime. |
| Lebanon | 2006 | United Nations resolutions that target persons who engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Lebanon. |
| Libya | 2011 | Restrictive measures in relation to persons and entities involved in serious human rights abuses against persons in Libya. |
| Serbia | 1994 | It is strictly limited to a ban on settling specific claims made in connection with contracts impacted by the revoked UN regulations. |
| Somalia | 1992 | Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Somalia |
| South Sudan | 2016 | Restrictive measures in view of the situation in South Sudan |
| Sudan | 1994 | Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Sudan |
| Tunisia | 2011 | Restrictive actions against those who are misusing Tunisian State funds, denying the people of Tunisia the advantages of a sustainable development of their society and economy, and undermining the growth of democracy in the nation. |
| Turkey | 2019 | Sanctions against State owned Turkish hydrocarbon companies like Turkish Petroleum Corporation |
| Yemen | 2014 | United Nations resolution that targets persons who engaged in acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. |