Source: European Parliament
Persons subject to individual restrictive measures (sanctions), including the Russian journalist mentioned in the question, are subject to an asset freeze, a prohibition to receive funds or economic resources and a travel ban[1].
The Commission oversees the implementation of EU sanctions as per Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014[2]. The enforcement of sanctions is primarily the responsibility of national authorities, and the Commission supports Member States in their efforts to ensure compliance, including through monitoring, the issuance of guidance and continuous information-exchange with the relevant national competent authorities of the Member States. Member States shall take all necessary steps to ensure adherence to EU sanctions in their jurisdiction.
The EU is taking a number of initiatives aimed at promoting media pluralism and tackling pro-Russian disinformation. These include inter alia the European Democracy Action Plan[3], the enforcement of the Digital Services Act[4] and the EU vs Disinfo platform[5].
On the sanctions side, some Russian media outlets are already subject to a broadcasting ban according to Article 2f of Council Regulation 833/2014[6] as they have been instrumental in preparing and supporting Russia’s invasion of Ukraine and for their participation in Russia’s systematic information manipulation and disinformation under the permanent direct or indirect control of the leadership of the Russian Federation.
Any restrictive measure falls under the EU’s Common Foreign and Security Policy and must be agreed unanimously by the Council.
- [1] Article 2, Council Regulation (EU) No 269/2014; https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A02014R0269-20250316.
- [2] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/269/oj/eng.
- [3] https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/ga/ip_20_2250.
- [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=legissum:4625430.
- [5] https://euvsdisinfo.eu/.
- [6] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/eli/reg/2014/833/oj/eng.