Financial Crime World

Title: “Spanish Businesses and Individuals: Lax Response to EU Sanctions Violations”

Eurojust Report Reveals Lack of Accountability in Spain

Brussels – The European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation (Eurojust) has released a report underscoring concerns about the absence of significant consequences for individuals and businesses that violate EU sanctions in Spain and Slovakia 1.

Spanish vs. EU Approach to Sanctions Violations

The report, “Prosecution of sanctions (restrictive measures) violations in national jurisdictions: a comparative analysis,” highlights the stark contrast between the Spanish and the majority of EU member states regarding the treatment of violations. In Spain and Slovakia, such offenses are considered exclusively administrative. In contrast, most EU member states categorize sanctions violations as criminal offenses 2.

Coordinated Approach Essential to Confronting Sanctions Violators

European Union law mandates that member states implement uniform EU sanctions and provide dissuasive penalties for violations. Eurojust emphasizes the importance of a coordinated approach to tackle those who evade or disregard sanctions 3.

“The report underscores that a coordinated effort is essential to facilitate information sharing between national bodies handling the implementation and monitoring of restrictive measures, and authorities investigating and prosecuting international crimes,” stressed Ruta Bajarunaite, an anti-money laundering expert at the Center of Excellence.

Variations in Penalties for Sanctions Violations

The report acknowledges significant differences in penalties for individuals and businesses violating EU sanctions, based on jurisdictions.

Penalties for Individuals

Sanctions violations carry the least severe penalty in Greece, with offenders facing only six months in prison. Maximum individual penalties are reached in Italy and Malta, with 12 years of imprisonment. The United States imposes the most stringent individual penalties, with a potential sentence of up to 20 years 4.

Penalties for Businesses

The difference in penalties between member states is also evident for businesses. The smallest fine for violating sanctions is €1,200 in Estonia, while Malta imposes the highest fine of €5m 5. Spanish authorities could impose a penalty of €1.5m on individuals.

Holding Corporations Accountable for Sanctions Violations

Even multinational corporations may face charges for complicity in crimes against humanity, as demonstrated in the French Lafarge case, where a parent company was held accountable for acts undertaken by its subsidiary abroad 6.

The Need for a More Coordinated Response

As the EU grapples with the ongoing challenge of ensuring sanctions violators face justice, Eurojust’s calls for a coordinated effort gain significance.



  1. European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, “Prosecution of sanctions (restrictive measures) violations in national jurisdictions: a comparative analysis” (2023). ↩︎

  2. Ibid. ↩︎

  3. European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, “Press Release: Eurojust publishes study on the prosecution of violations of restrictive measures” (2023). ↩︎

  4. European Union Agency for Criminal Justice Cooperation, “Prosecution of sanctions (restrictive measures) violations in national jurisdictions: a comparative analysis” (2023). ↩︎

  5. Ibid. ↩︎

  6. Eurojust, “Case Study: Lafarge (France)” (n.d.). ↩︎