The European Union has added eight individuals and one entity to its sanctions list for serious human rights violations and abuses, under the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime. The designations, adopted by the Council on 13 July 2026 through Decision (CFSP) 2026/1723, expand the annex to Decision (CFSP) 2020/1999, which established the regime. The new listings target those responsible for or complicit in severe human rights abuses, though the statement does not specify the names or the violations involved.
Nine non-EU countries — Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Moldova, Montenegro, North Macedonia, Norway, and Ukraine — have aligned themselves with the Council decision, committing to ensure their national policies conform to the EU's restrictive measures. The European Union welcomed this alignment, which is a standard diplomatic practice for candidate countries and European Economic Area members. The statement, issued by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on 29 July 2026, marks the formal notification of the alignment. The new sanctions add to the existing list of over 100 individuals and entities already subject to asset freezes and travel bans under the regime, which was first established in December 2020.