RFE
15 Mar 2019, 01:37 GMT+10
BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament has overwhelmingly passed a resolution urging EU member states to adopt a sanctions framework similar to the Magnitsky Act in order to punish human rights offenders.
The resolution adopted on March 14 calls on the European Council, comprising representatives of all 28 EU member states, 'to swiftly establish an autonomous, flexible and reactive EU-wide sanctions regime that would allow for the targeting of any individual, state and nonstate actors, and other entities responsible for or involved in grave human rights violations.'
The resolution suggests that 'an EU human rights sanctions regime to target individuals implicated in human rights abuses anywhere in the world should explicitly and symbolically carry Sergei Magnitsky's name.'
The Magnitsky Act -- U.S. legislation adopted by the United States in 2012 and meant to punish Russian officials responsible for the 2009 death in a Moscow prison of Russian tax accountant Sergei Magnitsky, who had uncovered large-scale tax fraud -- applies globally since 2016.
The Global Magnitsky Act authorizes the U.S. government to sanction those who it sees as human rights offenders, freezing their assets, and ban them from entering the United States.
EU members Estonia, Latvia, Lithuania, and Britain have introduced their own legislative framework to impose sanctions upon grave human rights abusers.
In November, Netherlands proposed that the EU should look into the possibility of targeting human rights abusers with asset freezes and visa bans no matter where they come from.
The creation of such a framework is currently being debated by EU diplomats in the Council.
Sources have told RFE/RL on condition of anonymity that it could be difficult to reach unanimity -- which is a requirement -- on a sanctions regime.
They also note that it is likely to mainly target suspects in Africa and Asia rather than Russian citizens, for example.
Rikard Jozwiak
Rikard Jozwiak covers the European Union and NATO for RFE/RL from his base in Brussels.
[email protected] FOLLOW Subscribe via RSS
Copyright (c) 2018. RFE/RL, Inc. Republished with the permission of Radio Free Europe/Radio Liberty, 1201 Connecticut Ave NW, Ste 400, Washington DC 20036
Get a daily dose of Mexico Star news through our daily email, its complimentary and keeps you fully up to date with world and business news as well.
Publish news of your business, community or sports group, personnel appointments, major event and more by submitting a news release to Mexico Star.
More InformationNEW DELHI, India: Birkenstock is stepping up its efforts to protect its iconic sandals in India, as local legal representatives conducted...
Fuel is only one of so many problems when death, destruction and displacement are being reported daily, as hopes for a possible ceasefire...
Representatives of women's organizations and networks that were part of the first delegation of gender experts at the talks in Havana...
(250710) -- LATAKIA (SYRIA), July 10, 2025 (Xinhua) -- Photo taken with a mobile phone on July 10, 2025 shows burned trees in province...
Agartala (Tripura) [India], July 10 (ANI): Heavy and continuous rainfall across Tripura has triggered severe flooding in South Tripura...
Dispur (Assam) [India], July 10 (ANI): The Assam cabinet on Thursday approved the proposal to enhance the remuneration of Gaon Pradhans...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: Travelers at U.S. airports will no longer need to remove their shoes during security screenings, Department of Homeland...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: An elaborate impersonation scheme involving artificial intelligence targeted senior U.S. and foreign officials in...
SLUBICE, Poland: Poland reinstated border controls with Germany and Lithuania on July 7, following Germany's earlier reintroduction...
WASHINGTON, D.C.: After months of warnings from former federal officials and weather experts, the deadly flash floods that struck the...
MOSCOW, Russia: Just hours after his sudden dismissal by President Vladimir Putin, Russia's former transport minister, Roman Starovoit,...
DHARAMSHALA, India: The Dalai Lama turned 90 on July 6, celebrated by thousands of followers in the Himalayan town of Dharamshala,...