{"id":5299,"date":"2026-03-16T19:39:44","date_gmt":"2026-03-16T18:39:44","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/?p=5299"},"modified":"2026-03-10T15:36:59","modified_gmt":"2026-03-10T14:36:59","slug":"legal-opinion-sanctions-against-individuals","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/legal-opinion-sanctions-against-individuals\/","title":{"rendered":"LEGAL OPINION &#8211; sanctions against individuals"},"content":{"rendered":"\t\t<div data-elementor-type=\"wp-post\" data-elementor-id=\"5299\" class=\"elementor elementor-5299 elementor-5386\" data-elementor-post-type=\"post\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<section class=\"elementor-section elementor-top-section elementor-element elementor-element-63a19a0 elementor-section-boxed elementor-section-height-default elementor-section-height-default\" data-id=\"63a19a0\" data-element_type=\"section\" data-e-type=\"section\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-container elementor-column-gap-default\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-column elementor-col-100 elementor-top-column elementor-element elementor-element-5b05d79f\" data-id=\"5b05d79f\" data-element_type=\"column\" data-e-type=\"column\">\n\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-wrap elementor-element-populated\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-6f347cc3 elementor-widget elementor-widget-text-editor\" data-id=\"6f347cc3\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"text-editor.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<p style=\"text-align: center;\"><strong>Commissioned by <\/strong><br \/><strong>MEPs Michael von der Schulenburg and Ruth Firmenich <\/strong><br \/><strong>Provided by <\/strong><br \/><strong>Prof. Dr. Ninon Colneric and Prof. Dr. Alina Miron<\/strong><\/p><p style=\"text-align: left;\"><br \/><strong>1. Do sanctions against natural persons for alleged disinformation, <\/strong><br \/><strong>based on the EU legal instruments concerning restrictive measures in <\/strong><br \/><strong>view of Russia&#8217;s destabilizing activities, comply with international <\/strong><br \/><strong>and EU law? <\/strong><br \/><strong>2. Can the European Parliament bring an action for annulment of such <\/strong><br \/><strong>legal instruments? <\/strong><br \/><br \/><\/p><p>Contents <br \/>QUESTION 1 \u2013 DO SANCTIONS AGAINST NATURAL PERSONS FOR ALLEGED DISINFORMATION, BASED ON THE <br \/>EU LEGAL INSTRUMENTS CONCERNING RESTRICTIVE MEASURES IN VIEW OF RUSSIA&#8217;S DESTABILIZING <br \/>ACTIVITIES, COMPLY WITH INTERNATIONAL AND EU LAW? &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. 2 <br \/>1. Preliminary remark &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 2 <br \/>2. The sanctions regime and its judicial review &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 3 <br \/>2.1. Overview of the relevant decisions and regulations &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 3 <br \/>2.2. The relevant target group &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 4 <br \/>2.3. Restrictive measures relating to natural persons &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. 5 <br \/>2.4. Listing procedure &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 9 <br \/>2.5. Judicial review&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 10 <br \/>3. The Role of the European Convention on Human Rights &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. 13 <br \/>4. Assessment under European Union law &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 15 <br \/>4.1. Competences &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 15 <br \/>4.2. Necessary provisions on legal safeguards &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 16 <br \/>4.3. Human rights &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 16 <br \/>5. Assessment under general international law &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 40 <br \/>5.1. Interference with the freedom of expression and information as protected by international <br \/>law &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 41 <br \/>5.2. The limits of the freedom of expression in international law &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. 42 <br \/>6. Conclusions &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 52 <br \/>QUESTION 2 \u2013 CAN THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT BRING AN ACTION FOR ANNULMENT OF SUCH LEGAL <br \/>INSTRUMENTS? &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 53 <br \/>1. Council Decision (CFSP) 2024\/2643 &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 53 <br \/>2. Council Regulation (EU) 2024\/2642 &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. 54 <br \/>3. Conclusions &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230; 55 <br \/>About the authors &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;.. 55 <br \/>ANNEX &#8211; List of natural persons sanctioned by the EU for information manipulation and <br \/>interference &#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;&#8230;. 56<\/p><p>\u00a0<\/p><p><em>Sole liability rests with the Member financing this political and information activity. The European Parliament is not responsible for any use that may be made of the information contained herein. <\/em><\/p>\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-element elementor-element-cc102d5 elementor-widget elementor-widget-button\" data-id=\"cc102d5\" data-element_type=\"widget\" data-e-type=\"widget\" data-widget_type=\"button.default\">\n\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-widget-container\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<div class=\"elementor-button-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t<a class=\"elementor-button elementor-button-link elementor-size-sm\" href=\"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/25-10-31-Legal-Opinion-Sanctions-against-individuals-R2-1.pdf\" target=\"_blank\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-content-wrapper\">\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<span class=\"elementor-button-text\">Legal Opinion (PDF)<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/span>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/a>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t<\/section>\n\t\t\t\t<\/div>\n\t\t","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Commissioned by MEPs Michael von der Schulenburg and Ruth Firmenich Provided by Prof. Dr. Ninon Colneric and Prof. Dr. Alina Miron 1. Do sanctions against natural persons for alleged disinformation, based on the EU legal instruments concerning restrictive measures in view of Russia&#8217;s destabilizing activities, comply with international and EU law? 2. Can the European&#8230;<\/p>\n<p><a class=\"read-more\" href=\"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/legal-opinion-sanctions-against-individuals\/\">Read More<\/a><\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":3,"featured_media":4885,"comment_status":"closed","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[1,96],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-5299","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-allgemein","category-defending-rule-of-law-in-the-eu"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5299","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/3"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=5299"}],"version-history":[{"count":7,"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5299\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":5306,"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/5299\/revisions\/5306"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/4885"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=5299"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=5299"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/michael-von-der-schulenburg.com\/en\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=5299"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}