UK Parliamentary Committee Report Criticizes UK's Post-Brexit Sanctions Policy

The U.K. Foreign Affairs Committee has published a critical report on the U.K. government's plans for the future of sanctions policy following Brexit. Currently, the U.K. must comply with economic and financial sanctions agreed at EU-level. Following the U.K.'s exit from the EU, it will regain autonomy over sanctions policy, but the Foreign Affairs Committee report reveals a lack of high-level thought on policy, a muddled position on key issues, including the implementation of EU sanctions into U.K. law following Brexit, the U.K.'s ability to impose "Magnitsky" sanctions (sanctions imposed upon individuals accused of human rights violations), and the extent to which the U.K.'s future sanctions policy should be coordinated with allies' policies, and a lack of cross-departmental government coordination in developing a coherent U.K. sanctions policy. The Report also criticizes the U.K. government's treatment of sanctions and anti-money laundering as distinct policy areas.
 
The report:
 

• Urges the National Security Council to begin a review of U.K. sanctions policy, culminating with a report to be delivered to Parliament by the end of 2019;
• Requests that Government appoint a cross-departmental Senior Responsible Officer for sanctions policy;
• Endorses proposals for a review of the Office of Financial Sanctions Implementation to determine whether a more appropriate body could be established to deal with sanctions and to consider how OFSI could improve its engagement with private sector bodies in implementing sanctions; and
• Calls on the Foreign and Commonwealth Office to publish its position on Magnitsky sanctions.

 
View the Foreign Affairs Committee's report.
 
Return to main website.