Assessing the effectiveness of the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime: a case study on the Russia-Ukraine conflict

On the 7th of December 2020 the European Union established the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime (EUGHRSR), which enables the organization to target individuals, entities and bodies responsible for, involved in or associated with serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. This thesis takes a step back and explores the origins of the EUGHRSR, tracing the historical evolution of the EU’s sanctions framework, illustrating how its mechanisms have developed from broad economic measures to precise, issue-specific actions inspired by the global Magnitsky model. By focusing on the application of the EUGHRSR framework and the measures resulting from it on Russia- following its military aggression in Ukraine-, this study investigates how targeted sanctions, including asset freezes and travel bans, were designed and implemented to punish violations and deter further escalation. Thanks to the cooperation between the Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) and EUGHRSR, it was possible to reach a successful result by offering a more adaptable and impactful approach compared to traditional sanction that had been always used by the EU. Through a combination of qualitative analysis of policy documents and case studies, the research assesses the regime’s effectiveness, even though its success being moderated by factors such as uneven enforcement, varying levels of commitment among EU Member States and the geopolitical influence of non-EU actors. Ultimately, this thesis contributes to a deeper understanding of the role and limitation of targeted sanctions as a tool of EU foreign policy, while reflecting on the importance of cohesive implementation strategies, sustained diplomatic efforts and collaboration with international partners to enhance the implementation of those measures to address conflicts like that of Russia and Ukraine.