The EU has just adopted its Human Rights Sanctions Mechanism.
This is a big Green success: The European Parliament and especially the Greens/EFA have long called for this mechanism.
The mechanism includes a toolbox of smart sanctions, like asset freezes and travel bans, which can be imposed on individuals and entities for breaching human rights – no matter where these breaches occurred!
We would have liked to see decisions on listings being made with qualified majority, given that this allows for more speed and efficiency. Unfortunately, the Council of the European Union has opted for unanimity.
As Greens, we insist: Decisions with qualified majority should become the norm!
