On Monday 19 October, the European Commission and the High Representative presented their joint proposal for an EU Council Regulation concerning the implementation of restrictive measures in response to serious violations of human rights and breaches of human rights around the world.
In her State of the Union address, the President of the Commission announced a proposal of this kind (see EUROPE 12561/9).
The aim of the proposal is to establish a horizontal sanctions regime, which, according to Commission Vice-President Maroš Šefčovič, will give the EU greater flexibility to take sanctions against human rights violations or abuses, wherever in the world they take place and whoever the perpetrators are. This scheme will not replace existing geographical regimes.
According to Šefčovič, the measures include an assets freeze and a visa ban. While such sanctions are usual, for the very first time the Commission proposes that it be entrusted with the monitoring of the implementation of the visa ban. Asked which department would be responsible for such monitoring, the Vice-President merely recalled that the Commission had the necessary mechanisms in place and that the decision on how to proceed would be taken internally. “I assume that the European External Action Service will be able to ensure” this monitoring, he added. The enforcement of visa bans is normally a prerogative of the Member States.
Although the Commission’s delegation for visa monitoring could discuss the proposal, the Vice-President considered that the proposal, consisting of a proposal for an EU Council Decision and a joint proposal for an EU Council Regulation, could be adopted by the Council quickly. According to him, the High Representative had consulted the ministers in advance of the proposal. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)