Free European Union sanctions screening
End-to-end screening of EU consolidated sanctions, EU travel restrictions, and 130+ additional sanctions sources, with comprehensive PEP and criminal watchlist coverage.
EU Council Decisions and Regulations – 2025 Latest Updates
The European Union enforces its own sanctions regime under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP). With over 40 regimes in force, these include arms embargoes, asset freezes, trade bans, and travel restrictions targeting non-EU governments, companies, and individuals. dilisense automates EU sanctions compliance using real-time, consolidated list access to ensure your business remains aligned with EU commitments to peace, security, and human rights. In 2025, the European Union continued to strengthen its Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) framework through new Council Decisions and Regulations. These legislative measures introduce and amend restrictive actions (commonly known as sanctions) targeting individuals, entities, and sectors involved in activities that undermine international peace, security, and human rights. The most recent updates focus primarily on Russia’s destabilising actions, the situation in Ukraine, and the prevention of chemical weapons proliferation. Each entry below links to the official EUR-Lex record for full legal reference.
Council Decisions
Common Foreign and Security Policy measures
Council Regulations
Implementing and amending regulations
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/933 of 20 May 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) No 269/2014 concerning restrictive measures in respect of actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine
Implements: 269/2014Council Decisions
Council Decisions are binding political and legal instruments under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) that establish the framework for EU sanctions. They bind Member States to implement restrictive measures and define the scope, targets, and objectives. Council Decisions require implementation through Council Regulations to create directly enforceable obligations.
| Type | Description | Legal Basis | Scope | Procedure | Entry into Force | Example Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Decision | Establishes a new sanctions regime by defining its legal basis, political objectives, and scope. | Adopted by the Council under Article 29 TEU (CFSP provisions). | Defines the political, geographical, and legal framework of a sanctions regime. | Initiated by High Representative or Member State proposal; adopted by Council unanimity or qualified majority. | Generally on the date specified in the Decision, or 20 days after publication in the Official Journal if no date is specified. | Establish sanctions against a specific country or address thematic concerns (e.g., cyber-attacks, human rights violations). |
| Amending Decision | Modifies an existing Basic Decision by adjusting scope, extending duration, or updating listed subjects. | Based on the existing Basic Decision framework. | Updates, corrects, or extends previous Council Decisions. | Proposed by High Representative or Member States; reviewed by Council working groups (e.g., RELEX, COMET). | On the date specified or 20 days after publication. | Add or remove individuals/entities from sanctions lists, extend regime duration. |
| Repealing Decision | Terminates an existing sanctions regime or specific restrictive measures. | Council authority under CFSP framework. | Ends the legal validity of previous Council Decisions. | Council adoption following political review. | On the date specified in the Decision. | Lift sanctions after political objectives are achieved or situation changes. |
Council Regulations
Council Regulations implement CFSP Council Decisions by creating directly applicable and enforceable legal obligations across all EU Member States. They contain detailed provisions on asset freezes, trade restrictions, financial prohibitions, and enforcement mechanisms. Regulations are binding in their entirety and directly applicable without requiring national transposition.
| Type | Description | Legal Basis | Scope | Procedure | Entry into Force | Example Use |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Basic Regulation | Implements a CFSP Council Decision by establishing detailed, enforceable rules applicable throughout the EU. | Article 215 TFEU, implementing a CFSP Council Decision adopted under Article 29 TEU. | Creates directly applicable legal obligations including asset freezes, trade bans, and procedural requirements. | Proposed by the High Representative and Commission; adopted by the Council. | On the date specified or 20 days after publication in the Official Journal. | Impose EU-wide asset freezes, sectoral sanctions, or trade embargoes. |
| Amending Regulation | Updates an existing Council Regulation by modifying scope, refining definitions, or adjusting enforcement provisions. | Based on the existing Basic Regulation and underlying CFSP Decision. | Changes substantive provisions, annexes, definitions, or exemption procedures. | Same procedure as Basic Regulation (High Representative/Commission proposal, Council adoption). | On the date specified or 20 days after publication. | Expand sectoral sanctions, tighten export controls, clarify humanitarian exemptions. |
| Commission Implementing Regulation | Provides uniform implementation of Council Regulations, primarily used for listing and delisting designated persons and entities. | Implementing powers conferred by the Basic Regulation to the Commission under Article 291 TFEU. | Cannot modify substantive provisions. Primarily used for technical implementation, especially maintaining Annexes of designated persons/entities. | Adopted by the Commission, often following Member State proposal; may involve comitology procedures. | Typically on the day following publication or on the date specified (often immediate for listing updates). | Add or remove individuals/entities from sanctions lists, implement technical enforcement measures. |
| Repealing Regulation | Terminates an existing Council Regulation, ending its legal effect. | Council authority under Article 215 TFEU. | Ends all legal obligations under the repealed Regulation. | Council adoption, typically following repeal of underlying CFSP Decision. | On the date specified. | Lift sanctions regime when CFSP Decision is repealed. |
…and trusted by 300+ more companies worldwide.
Smart sanctions screening for a compliance-ready future
dilisense continuously monitors and analyzes EU sanctions lists published by the Council of the European Union under the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP), including all related Council Decisions and Regulations. Our platform handles real-time updates whenever new restrictive measures such as asset freezes, trade restrictions, and travel bans are introduced or amended. By automating EU sanctions screening across individuals, entities, and sectors, dilisense helps organizations remain compliant with evolving EU law. Integrate seamlessly with your existing KYC and AML workflows to reduce manual review time, eliminate false positives, and demonstrate full adherence to EU regulatory standards with confidence and transparency.
Ease of integration
A well-documented, developer-friendly REST API gives teams the clarity they need to build confidently and move fast. When documentation is clear, consistent, and easy to navigate, developers spend less time guessing and more time shipping features. SDKs and Postman collections make it simple to explore endpoints, test requests, and integrate quickly into existing workflows. Detailed examples, error handling guidelines, and sandbox environments further reduce onboarding time and lower the learning curve.
LEARN MORE
Flexibility and customization
The ability to screen against specific watchlists gives organizations more control over their compliance process. By selecting only relevant lists, teams can minimize false positives and focus on what truly matters. Setting risk thresholds ensures alerts are tailored to an organization’s unique risk appetite, improving accuracy and efficiency.
Auditing and reporting
dilisense’s API provides structured, detailed information for creating transparent audit trails. Clients can log screening actions to build complete records for regulators, enabling fast, compliant reporting.
