Are European Union “Sanctions” against Russia Compatible with International Law?

INTRODUCTION. The adoption of unfriendly measures against third States as a way to force a policy change is not new between States and can be legally acceptable in specific cases dictated by the United Nations Security Council or when in accordance with international law. When lacking a linking element between both the punishing and the punished States, sanctions are unilateral, which, in the end, equates to a violation of the customary principles of sovereign equality and non-intervention, thus violating international law. The European Union seeks the pursuance of a distinct approach against several States, including the Russian Federation. In the end, the main goal of this study is to be able to provide an answer to the following question: are EU sanctions against Russia compatible with international law? MATERIALS AND METHODS. This study begins with the characterisation of the concept of “sanctions”, its typologies, its different ways of expression and the framework of sanctions under international law. It will be followed by an assessment on the political and legal position of the European Union on sanctions to then finalize with the specific case of the sanction’s regime adopted by Brussels against Russia. This work takes into account as main sources the instruments adopted by the United Nations’ Special Rapporteur on the negative impact of unilateral coercive measures on the enjoyment of human rights, as well as legal doctrine, jurisprudence and normative elements. RESEARCH RESULTS. The result of the research conducted demonstrates the development of a trend within the European Union towards a concentration of powers in the Council of the European Union through vague and arbitrary normative instruments in order to adopt sanctions against third States. This trend gained more traction and legitimacy after the Treaty of Lisbon and is driven by the ambition of the European Union to directly influence the most significant international events and push for political changes in the targeted States, attempting to force the latters’ sovereign bodies to embrace the same values and principles as the Brussels based organization. DISCUSSION AND CONCLUSIONS. The notion of “sanctions” comprises two different mechanisms: decisions which, although may be unfriendly, are in accordance with international law; and unilateral coercive measures, which constitute breaches of international law. Despite the fact that the European Union’s sanctions regime is publicly presented under the name of “restrictive measures”, in the end, such measures are adopted outside the United Nations Security Council environment and lack a factual basis enough to justify such decisions, thus fitting in the scope of unilateral coercive measures, forbidden by international law.

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