Since March 2022, Eurojust has actively participated in the EU Freeze and Seize Task Force set up by the European Commission to ensure the efficient implementation of EU sanctions against listed Russian and Belarussian oligarchs across the European Union. Eurojust provides operational support to the Task Force by coordinating Member States’ enforcement of Union sanctions through criminal law. This is done by:

• regularly cross-checking the list of individuals and companies sanctioned by the European Union against Eurojust’s data on existing cases handled by the Agency (this allowed Eurojust to identify and confirm seven links during 2022 that may provide extra leads on existing cases or generate new ones);
• collecting relevant information at national level on past and ongoing investigations related to those listed in the sanctions list to facilitate criminal proceedings, ultimately leading to the confiscation of assets;
• mapping legal and practical obstacles that may hinder the confiscation of assets owned or controlled by the listed individuals and companies; and
• participating in Operation Oscar set-up by the European Union Law Enforcement Agency (Europol) to support the freezing of criminal assets owned by EU-sanctioned individuals and entities.

The Agency identifies links between sanctioned individuals and companies, collects necessary information for the confiscation of assets, and supports national investigations into circumventions of Union restrictive measures.

More information:

• European Commission press release on Freeze and Seize Task Force
• Operation Oscar – EU-wide operation targeting criminal assets in relation to the Russian invasion of Ukraine