EU Sanctions Against Third Countries Legal Basis for EU Sanctions against Russia and its Citizens

The EU Treaties provide several possibilities to sanction EU Member States for failing to comply with EU law. The EU has a legal basis for so-called EU sanctions in Article 215 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, aimed at third countries (i.e. countries outside the EU) and their legal entities (e.g., in Belarus, Russia). Over recent years, sanctions against third countries have become increasingly frequent. This article delves into the legal framework for adopting EU sanctions, the potential legal protection available to sanctioned individuals, and the relevant case law of the Court of Justice of the EU. In this context, the question of whether Abramovich or some other Russian citizens on the sanctions list can access funds from EU bank accounts or enter the EU will be addressed.