Sanctions against Haiti

Description of the sanctions

Arms embargo

The arms embargo means that the sale, delivery, transfer or export of arms and arms-related materiel of all types is prohibited to – or for the benefit of – natural and legal persons and entities that are designated by the United Nations Sanctions Committee. It is also prohibited to provide technical assistance, intermediary services, funding or other services linked to military activities.

Travel restrictions

Travel restrictions apply to entry into – or transit through – the territory of EU Member States for natural persons designated on a list of those directly or indirectly responsible for, involved in or having carried out acts that threaten peace, stability and security in Haiti.

Freezing of assets

All funds and economic resources must be frozen if they, directly or indirectly, are owned or controlled by natural and legal persons or entities that are designated by the Sanctions Committee as responsible for, involved in or having carried out acts that threaten peace, stability and security in Haiti.

Competent Swedish authorities

The Swedish Social Insurance Agency may grant exemptions from the freezing of assets of natural persons. The Agency is also the competent authority to receive information about certain assets from natural persons.

The National Board of Trade may grant exemptions from the freezing of assets of legal persons, entities and bodies. The Board is also the competent authority to receive information about certain assets from legal persons, entities and bodies.

Relevant documents

The UN’s framework for restrictive measures in view of the situation in Haiti was adopted on 21 October 2022 through Security Council Resolution 2653 (2022).

The EU’s restrictive measures in view of the situation in Haiti are regulated by Council Decision (CFSP) 2022/2319 of 25 November 2022. The aspects of the measures pertaining to EU law are regulated by Council Regulation (EU) No 2022/2309.

On 28 July 2023, the Council amended the framework for restrictive measures to enable the EU to independently impose restrictive measures against individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of Haiti, or undermining democracy or the rule of law.

Please refer to the EU sanctions map and EUR-Lex for updated information about – and links to – applicable legal instruments.

Background to the sanctions

In light of the deteriorated situation in Haiti, on 21 October 2023 the UN Security Council adopted Resolution 2653 (2022) on establishing a new framework for restrictive measures. The measures are directed towards natural and legal persons and entities, and enables the introduction of travel restrictions, freezing of assets and arms embargoes against those natural and legal persons and entities identified by the Sanctions Committee and designated in the list. The UN Resolution has been transposed into EU legislation through a Council Decision of 25 November 2022.