Jurisdiction(s):
European Union

EU financial sanctions for financial institutions: asset freezes, ownership/control, transaction bans, licences and exemptions, enforcement and penalties, EBA/AMLA oversight, AML/CTF integration, with Russia and Iran examples

Published by a LexisNexis EU Law expert

Practice notes

This Practice Note summarises the principal European Union financial sanctions relevant to financial services providers. It covers EU sanctions—most notably asset-freeze measures—and the intersecting elements of the EU anti-money laundering and countering the financing of terrorism (AML/CTF) framework. For practical guidance on the EU AML/CTF framework for financial services, see: Financial crime and sanctions (EU Law)—overview. For UK-focused guidance, see: Sanctions compliance—overview and Anti-money laundering and counter-terrorist financing (AML/CTF)—overview.

Key points

EU financial services firms must comply with a broad and increasingly complex range of sanctions. Given their risk exposure, they are expected to maintain robust sanctions compliance controls and procedures, and to meet any compliance standards set by their national regulators.
EU sanctions apply across the EU, but each Member State and its financial services regulators may issue their own guidance, compliance best practice, and expectations.
This sanctions environment includes the sweeping economic blocking measure of EU asset-freeze sanctions, alongside other measures especially relevant to financial services firms, such as transaction bans, capital market restrictions, prohibitions on funds transfers, loan and credit restrictions, and prohibitions on facilitating...

To view the latest version of this document and thousands of others like it, sign-in with LexisNexis or register for a free trial.

Daniel Shapland

Hogan Lovells

Daniel advises on international trade and investment law and policy issues including WTO rules, customs, forced labour regulation, sanctions, trade remedies and export controls. He also advises on national security matters, including investment screening under the National Security and Investment Act 2021. From 2015 to 2021, Daniel worked in the UK Parliament advising Claire Coutinho MP and Peter Heaton-Jones MP. He seeks to integrate this experience of legislative, policy-making and government processes into his legal advice.Daniel acts for clients operating in a broad range of industries, including defence, space and satellite, transportation, energy, food and beverage, finance and life sciences....

Aline Doussin

Hogan Lovells

Aline Doussin leads the International Trade and Investment team in London. As a triple-qualified lawyer (Paris, England and Wales, and Milan), she represents companies on the full range of international trade law and policy issues, including export controls, sanctions, anti-money laundering, customs and tariffs, trade remedies. Additionally, Aline advises companies with respect to Foreign Direct Investment screening in France and the UK, as well as advises on national security laws in those jurisdictions. She provides clients with the full spectrum of support ranging from advisory, advocacy, audits, investigations, and litigation, and has established deep relationships and contacts with the key decision-makers in various government jurisdictions. Aline has a wide network through her membership of the Policy Committee of British American Business (BAB), and involvement with the HM Government's Professional Business Services advisory group (TTG), and the Franco British Chamber of...

Web page updated on 21/05/2026

Popular documents

Using the Judicial College Guidelines to assess general damages in personal injury claims

When evaluating a general damages claim, the practitioner ought initially to refer to the Judicial College Guidelines (JCG)...

Tomlin orders in England and Wales: CPR guidance on drafting, confidentiality, approval, variation, enforcement, limitation, CCA issues, court-specific requirements, sample wording and precedents

This Practice Note This Practice Note reviews mechanisms used in settling litigation. A Tomlin order consists of a consent order paired with a schedule. It operates to stay proceedings on terms that have been agreed. The provisions contained in the schedule may remain confidential. This Practice Note describes the scope of confidentiality attaching to the schedule and sets out how it differs from a standard consent order. Sample wording for a Tomlin order is included, alongside links to precedents, as well as guidance on court approval. It also addresses varying, setting aside and enforcing a Tomlin order, including the considerations the court will take into account when handling applications for each. Further guidance is provided on interpreting and applying the relevant provisions of the CPR; however, some courts and divisions impose very specific requirements for both drafting and approval, and for approaching the schedule and confidentiality issues. Accordingly, you must consider the particular rules and court guide provisions in the forum where your claim is proceeding when drawing up the Tomlin order...

Precedent: Deed of Surrender of Lease with Optional Premium, Settlement and Release, Landlord, Mortgagee and Guarantor Consents, Reimbursement and HM Land Registry Provisions (England and Wales)

Date [ date ] Parties [ name of Landlord ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Landlord) [ name of Tenant ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Tenant) [ [ name of Guarantor ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Guarantor) ] [ [ name of Mortgagee ] [ of OR incorporated in England and Wales (company registration number [ number ]) with its registered office at ] [ address ] (Mortgagee) ] Definitions Within this Deed, the terms below shall be interpreted as follows: [ Annual Rent • the annual sum reserved under the Lease; ] [ Insurance Rent • the Tenant’s share of the Landlord’s costs of insuring the Property (as set out in the Lease); ] Lease • the lease of the Property dated [ date ], entered into between (1) [ the Landlord OR [ name ...

Precedent Statutory Declaration: Standard Wording under the Statutory Declarations Act 1835

I, [ name ], of [ address ], solemnly and sincerely state that: [ Matters to be verified, set out in numbered paragraphs ] I make this solemn statement in good conscience, believing it to be true, and pursuant to the provisions of the Statutory Declarations Act 1835. DECLARED at [ details ] this [ day ] day of [ month and year ] Before me ................................................................................ [ signature of the person before whom the declaration is made ] A [ commissioner for oaths OR [ solicitor OR [ insert other qualification ] ] authorised to administer oaths ]...