SANCTIONS
Within the framework of its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), the EU applies restrictive measures for the purposes of pursuing the specific CSFP objectives stated in the Treaty on European Union. In recent years, the EU has often made recourse to the imposition of sanctions or restrictive measures both autonomously and in compliance with the binding resolutions of the United Nations Security Council.
Sanctions are diplomatic or economic instruments intended to stimulate change in activities or policies, such as violations of international law, human rights, rule of law or democratic principles. The restrictive measures imposed by the EU can target the governments of third countries as well as non-State entities or physical or legal individuals (such as terrorist groups or individual terrorists). They can consist of embargoes on the sale of weapons, other specific or general trade restrictions (import or export bans), financial restrictions, travel restrictions (visa or travel bans), or other measures that may appear appropriate depending on the case.
According to the nature of the specific sanction regime, Member States are called upon to undertake specific tasks regarding the implementation of the restrictive measures.
For the EU’s latest updates, please consult:
- the EU Internet page on sanctions:
- European map of territorial and ‘horizontal’ sanctions, i.e. thematic ones:
- Link to the consolidated texts of the EU legislation in force:
For more information on UN sanctions:
Ministry of Economy and Finance – Financial Security Committee
For more information please consult qui (here)
e-mail: csf@mef.gov.it
Communications in accordance with Articles 8 and 9 of Regulation (EU) No. 269/2014 of the Council of 17 March 2014:
https://uif.bancaditalia.it/pubblicazioni/comunicati/documenti/Comunicato-UIF-18-agosto-2022.pdf
e-mail: ari.cin.congelamenti@bancaditalia.it
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Directorate General for Political and Security Affairs (DGAP) – Sanctions Coordination Unit
Policy focal point on sanctions
e-mail: sanzioni@esteri.it
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Directorate General for Global Affairs (DGMO) – Office 1
National focal point on sanctions.
e-mail: dgmo-01@esteri.it
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – National Authority – UAMA (Unit for the Authorizations of Armament Materials)
National authority in charge of controlling the exports, transfers, brokering and transit of dual-use goods and technologies as governed by the European Union. It issues the corresponding export authorisations and import and export certifications.
e-mail: uama.dualuse@esteri.it
For more details, please consult the page https://www.esteri.it/mae/it/ministero/struttura/uama
MINISTRY OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS AND INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION
06.3691.1 (switchboard); 06.3691.8899 (Office of Relations with the Public)
Ministry of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation – Crisis Unit for Companies facing the Consequences of the Russian-Ukrainian Conflict
The Crisis Unit advises on existing restrictive measures for companies involved in business transactions with the Russian Federation and Belarus. It is also competent for notifications of oil imports under Article 3 quaterdiecis (3m) of Council Regulation No. 833/2014 (Unità di Crisi per le imprese) (Crisis Unit for Companies), as well as to provide assistance to Italian companies needing to reorient their supply markets as a result of the conflict. The Crisis Unit can be contacted for any issue at: export.crisiucraina@esteri.it
European Union legislation on infringement and circumvention of restrictive measures imposed by the EU on the Russian Federation and the Republic of Belarus
Considering the need for a strict implementation of the restrictive measures adopted in connection with the Ukrainian crisis, operators’ attention is drawn to EU legislation aimed at combating their circumvention. While referring to the direct reading of the legislation in force, it is recalled that overall it is prohibited to participate, knowingly and intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is to circumvent the bans provided for by EU Regulation No. 833/2014 and subsequent amendments (Article 12) and by EU Regulation No. 765/2006 and subsequent amendments (Article 1 quaterdiecis) (1m), as well as to participate in activities aimed at circumventing the provisions of EU Regulation No. 269/2014 and subsequent amendments (Article 9). Furthermore, natural or legal persons, entities or bodies facilitating or aiding and abetting circumvention activities are also liable to be subsequently designated among the persons subject to freezing of all the funds and economic resources they hold (EU Regulation No. 269/2014 and subsequent amendments, Article 3 (1), subparagraph h).
Individual economic operators are subject to the existing obligation to conduct appropriate due diligence, tailored to the specificities of their business and their exposure to risk. It is up to each operator to develop, implement and regularly update an EU sanction compliance programme that reflects their business models, the geographical areas in which they operate, specificities and risk assessment.
Project to redirect critical supplies from alternative markets
The Crisis Unit, jointly with Confindustria and the ICE Agency, has launched a project aimed to identify the main raw materials and semi-finished products that are critical for national industry, with the aim of identifying and making available to companies alternative sources of supply to the suppliers of the countries involved in the Russian-Ukrainian conflict.
The Crisis Unit, through the MAECI foreign network, has drawn up a list of potential alternative suppliers. The companies interested in obtaining more information on possible suppliers and supply markets are urged to write to export.crisiucraina@esteri.it.