On October 29, 2024, the Council of the EU adopted Council Decision (CFSP) 2024/2771 in order to clarify the scope of the ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda (“ISIL/Al-Qaeda”) sanctions regime and the criteria used to impose restrictive measures under the regime. The criteria were expanded to include those engaged in “planning, directing or committing acts involving sexual and gender-based violence, including rape, enslavement of persons, and cases of abduction and trafficking in persons” when these acts are used by ISIL/Al-Qaeda and their associates as a tactic of terrorism. According to the Council, the decision to amend the ISIL/Al-Qaeda sanctions regime follows the United Nations Security Council’s (“UNSC”) adoption of Resolution 2734 in June 2024, in which the UNSC recognized that individuals and entities engaged in sexual and gender-based violence may be eligible for designation when these acts are associated with terrorist activities.
The ISIL/Al-Qaeda sanctions regime enables the European Union to impose restrictive measures against those who threaten peace and security around the world by engaging in the planning, financing and execution of terrorist attacks and by spreading terrorist propaganda. The regime subjects designees to asset freezes and travel bans in the European Union. It also forbids EU operators from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to designees.
The Council recently extended the ISIL/Al-Qaeda sanctions regime for an additional year, until October 31, 2025.