EU recent developments
The EU Council established a new sanctions framework targeting Guatemala. A new framework is also established by the EU for imposing restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
New sanctions on Guatemala
On 12 January 2024, the EU Council established a dedicated framework for restrictive measures in support of democracy and a peaceful and orderly transfer of power in Guatemala.
The framework, set out in Council Regulation (EU) 2024/287, will allow the EU to impose restrictive measures against both individuals and entities responsible for actions that undermine democracy, the rule of law and a peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala. The measures will consist of a travel restriction for individuals and an asset freeze for individuals and entities. It will also be forbidden to make funds and economic resources available to those listed.
The background to this framework is the attempts to undermine the results of the presidential election in Guatemala. The election resulted in a clear victory of President-elect Bernardo Arévalo. The EU has expressed its support for Guatemala and the country's new president, and condemned the attempts to nullify the results of the general and presidential elections in Guatemala. In order to seek accountability for those obstructing a democratic transition in Guatemala, the EU agreed on 8 December 2023 to adopt a framework targeting those responsible for these actions.
No natural or legal persons have yet been designated under the new sanctions framework. According to article 2 para. 3, designation criteria include natural and legal persons responsible for, engaging in, providing support to, or benefiting from, actions that undermine democracy, the rule of law or the peaceful transfer of power in Guatemala, and natural or legal persons undermining democracy or the rule of law in Guatemala through serious financial misconduct concerning public funds or the unauthorised export of capital.
New sanctions framework targeting Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad
On 19 January 2024, the EU Council established a dedicated framework for restrictive measures against those who support, facilitate or enable violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad.
The framework, set out in Council Regulation (EU) 2024/386, is applicable for one year, subject to renewal as appropriate if the EU Council deems that its objective has not been met. The framework will allow the EU impose restrictive measures on those who support, materially or financially, Hamas or the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, including supplying, selling or transferring arms and related material, support actions undermining or threaten the stability or security of Israel, or who are involved in serious violations of international humanitarian law or human rights law. In addition, the new framework allows the EU to target persons or entities providing support to those facilitating or enabling violent action by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad, meaning "the sponsors of those who sponsor the two terrorist organisations", according to the EU Council press release.
According to the press release, the new framework aims at preventing such violent actions by Hamas and the Palestinian Islamic Jihad in future. High Representative Josep Borrell further stated that "Israelis and Palestinians deserve to live in a just, lasting and secure peace". The framework is adopted following the 7 October 2023 attacks across Israel by Hamas, which were condemned by the EU the same day, and reiterated in the 26 and 27 October Conclusions.
Six persons have already been designated pursuant to the new framework.
WR Sanctions Alerts provide you with updates on material developments in the country-specific sanctions programmes implemented by the US, the UN, the UK, the EU and Norway. We will not provide updates on mere prolongations, without material changes, of existing sanctions programmes, nor on any listings or de-listings of individuals/entities placed on implemented sanctions lists. Please note that the WR Sanctions Alerts are provided as general information and do not constitute legal advice.