The effectiveness of sanctions against Russia and Belarus depends not only on adopting restrictions, but on whether proven violations lead to real legal consequences. Without consistent investigation, asset freezes where justified, and prosecution of those responsible, the infrastructure of sanctions evasion can continue to operate.
This was stated in a comment to Guildhall by Reinhold Lopatka, an Austrian Member of the European Parliament from the Austrian People’s Party and the European People’s Party group.
“The European Union, together with many of our partners, such as the UK, Switzerland, Western Balkan countries including Montenegro, and others, has adopted extensive sanctions against Russia and Belarus, but their main weakness lies in enforcement,” Lopatka said.
According to him, the central problem is not only the formal criminalisation of sanctions breaches, but the lack of effective follow-up in established cases.
“The core problem is that established violations of the sanctions regime still do not consistently trigger a criminal-procedural response. As a result, the infrastructure of sanctions evasion is not sufficiently dismantled and can continue to function,” the MEP stated.
“This is why the issue is not merely the formal criminalisation of sanctions breaches, but the need for mechanisms that ensure effective follow-up in every established case,” he added.
Lopatka stressed that prohibited trade with sanctioned Russian entities should lead to concrete legal consequences.
“Prohibited trade with sanctioned Russian entities should lead to appropriate investigative action, asset freezes where legally justified, and prosecution of responsible participants across the chain, in full respect of due process and Member States’ competences,” he said.
He also warned that the complexity of cross-border investigations should not become a reason for enforcement gaps.
“References to the complexity of cross-border investigations should not lead to gaps in enforcement where the actors, channels, and schemes are already known,” Lopatka said.
Earlier, in an interview with Guildhall, Vice-President of the European Parliament Roberts Zile said that Europe needs Ukraine as much as Ukraine needs Europe.
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