The bill would make violating EU sanctions a crime in Spain

Automatic summary, not yet reviewed

1. The bill would create, for the first time in the Spanish Criminal Code, a specific crime of violating European Union restrictive measures, something that did not exist as a standalone crime in Spain until now.
2. It would punish with two to six years in prison and a fine making funds available to sanctioned persons or entities, failing to freeze assets, doing business with sanctioned states, trading or providing prohibited services, or evading sanctions, when the value is 100,000 euros or more. For values between 10,000 and 100,000 euros, the penalty would be one degree lower.
3. Allowing sanctioned individuals to enter or pass through Spain would carry one to four years in prison. Failing to report or hiding information about funds or assets subject to sanctions would carry one to two years in prison and a fine of up to three times the value involved.
4. Companies held responsible for these crimes could face fines of up to 5% of their total worldwide turnover for the previous year, or up to 1% for the offenses in Artículo 604 quater.
5. Penalties would be tougher if the crime is committed within a criminal organization, by professionals or public officials, or in other listed situations. Humanitarian aid provided under international humanitarian law would not be punished, and judges could reduce the sentence for those who confess and cooperate.
6. A Mixed Coordination Commission would be created to coordinate the authorities applying these sanctions, and the Criminal Chamber of the Audiencia Nacional would hear these cases. The law would take effect twenty days after its publication in the Official State Gazette.

Who it affects

• Persons and companies sanctioned by the European Union: They would be the direct targets of the restrictive measures whose violation would become a crime.
• Banks, companies and professionals handling funds, goods or services: They would have to avoid prohibited transactions with sanctioned persons or states; they could face prison and fines.
• Responsible legal entities (companies): They could face fines of up to 5% of their total worldwide turnover.
• Judges and the Audiencia Nacional: The Criminal Chamber of the Audiencia Nacional would hear these cases.
• Public administrations: They would coordinate their actions through the new Mixed Coordination Commission.

Words worth knowing

Medidas restrictivas (restrictive measures)

Sanctions the European Union imposes on countries, entities or people, such as freezing their funds, banning them from entering the EU, or restricting trade with them.

Inmovilizar activos (freeze assets)

Blocking funds or goods so their owner cannot use or move them.

Productos de doble uso (dual-use products)

Goods that can be used for both civilian and military purposes.

Decomiso (forfeiture)

A judge permanently taking away goods or money linked to a crime.

Ley orgánica (organic law)

A type of Spanish law reserved for major matters, such as criminal law, requiring a special vote in Congress.

It summarizes the text as it was introduced. It is written by artificial intelligence and may contain mistakes: the official text is what counts. Read the official text · How we make summaries