The permanent office will cover the entire cycle of work with restrictions: from the political preparation of packages to their practical application in EU countries. European Commissioner for Financial Services Maria Luís Albuquerque explained that the structure will speed up data exchange between European and national authorities and allow faster clarifications to member states on applying sanctions.
At the same time, a working group is being created to counter the circumvention of restrictions through cryptocurrencies. It will include national and European experts. The crypto settlement channel, to which some international trade participants turned after Russian banks were disconnected from SWIFT, now comes under direct monitoring by a specialised EC structure.
European Commission spokesperson Siobhán McGarry confirmed that a 22nd sanctions package is being prepared, without naming a date for its presentation. The EC does not consider the expansion of the sanctions list on October 12 a separate package: it contained no new economic restrictions and only expanded the list of persons.
On October 12, the EU Council added about 1,600 companies and individuals linked to the Russian military-industrial complex to the sanctions list. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas called it the largest expansion of the list since 2022.
For companies conducting foreign trade through third countries or using crypto tools in cross-border settlements, the institutionalisation of the EC's sanctions work brings direct risks. The permanent office closes the gap between decisions in Brussels and their enforcement by national regulators — which means faster detection of evasion schemes and faster responses to them. Companies whose supply chains or payment routes pass through EU jurisdictions or its trading partners should conduct an up-to-date compliance audit before the 22nd package appears.
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