EU extends sanctions on individuals and terrorist groups for six months

European Union foreign ministers on Monday formally approved a new six-month extension of the list of individuals and groups sanctioned by the European Union as terrorists, which implies a freezing of assets and a ban on entering EU soil.

The European Union updates and extends every six months the names of those sanctioned since the list was created in 2001, following the 9/11 attacks in the United States, on the basis of information on any new facts or changes in the situation of the individuals or groups included.

Monday’s decision renews the existing list without change, after the names of three individuals linked to Al Qaeda and that of a group operating in the Sahel were added last June.

Thus, a total of 13 individuals and 21 groups and entities make up the EU terrorist list by which they are subject to the freezing of their funds and other financial assets in the EU and European operators are prohibited from making funds and economic resources available to them.

This sanctions regime is separate from the EU regime implementing UN Security Council resolutions against Al-Qaida and ISIS organizations, the Council has specified in a statement.