Debate: EU sanctions against Russia and the rule of law


On 24 January 2023, a group of distinguished practitioners and academics discussed rule of law issues involving the restrictive measures adopted by the European Union in the aftermath of the Russian Federation‘s aggression against Ukraine. It followed the well-tested format of a debate whereby panelists where assigned positions in order to spark in lively discussion on issues such as the possibility to use frozen Russian assets for the reconstruction of Ukraine, the compliance of the sanctions regime with the principles of legal certainty and foreseeability, its conformity with fundamental rights and proportionality, as well as the adequacy of legal remedies against listing decisions by the EU. Among the speakers were Juliane Kokott, Antonios Tzanakopoulos, Christian Tietje, Stephan Wittich, Gabriel Lansky, Philip Goeth, Lorant Havas, Erika de Wet, Nicoleta Tuominen, and Viktor Kreuschitz. The debate was organised by August Reinisch in cooperation with Marc Bungenberg from Saarland University and sponsored by Lansky, Ganzger, Goeth, Frankl and Partner. It was attended by more than hundred persons on the top floor of the Juridicum who followed a highly successful exchange of views.