EU-US seminar about anti-terrorism sanctions in Helsinki

Press release 379/2006
26 September, 2006

The representatives of the European Union and the United States will convene in Helsinki on 27-28 September to discuss financial sanctions against terrorism. The joint seminar will examine particularly the question of transparency and fairness in decision-making concerning the sanctions. The theme of the seminar is "Transparency and Fairness in Listing and De-listing". In addition to the EU member states and the United States, representatives from Norway and Switzerland have also been invited to the seminar.

The anti-terrorism sanctions are based on the UN Security Council resolutions. It is a question of so-called targeted sanctions which are directed against separately listed private individuals and entities. The funds and assets of individuals or entities targeted by the financial sanctions are frozen. In addition, handing over of funds and assets to the listed individuals or entities is forbidden. Since 2001, the financial sanctions have become established as an essential means of combating financing of terrorism in international anti-terrorism activities.

Finland has been emphasising the viewpoints associated with the legal rights of individuals when financial sanctions against persons and entities are being imposed. In recent times, the questions related to the issue of legal rights have arisen more and more strongly as a topic of international debate both within the EU and the UN. The purpose of the Helsinki seminar is to examine the listing and de-listing criteria and procedures particularly from the point of view of the legal rights of an individual.

Additional information: Director Marja Lehto, Unit for Public International Law, tel. +358 9 1605 5726, +358 40 511 8429, and Legislative Secretary Juha Rainne, tel. +358 9 1605 5742, +358 40 525 3613