News item | 04-11-2022 | 15:20
The cabinet writes in a letter to the House of Representatives that the Dutch sanctions system is being modernized. With the expectation that the sanctions instruments will become increasingly relevant, but also more complex in the future, it is important to strengthen and future-proof Dutch legislation on sanctions compliance and enforcement. In doing so, the government is also implementing the recommendations in this area from the Final Report National Coordinator for Sanctions Compliance and Enforcement.
Sanctions are an important instrument for (restoring) international peace and security, promoting the international legal order and combating terrorism. The Sanctions Act 1977 has only been amended to a limited extent in the past decade, while the scope and complexity of European sanctions regulations have increased significantly. In order to be able to effectively implement the rapid succession of European sanctions developments, the government is committed to central, more focused and enhanced cooperation between all parties involved in sanctions compliance. This includes future-proof arranging of powers, modernizing and possibly expanding administrative supervision and enforcement, arranging the management and administration of certain (long-term) frozen assets and economic resources, and providing sound foundations for data sharing.
Process
Due to its complexity, the modernization of the sanctions system requires careful elaboration and requires the necessary commitment from the various departments involved. The dispatch of the outline letter marks the start of the modernization process. The aim is to start the consultation phase of the bill for the new Sanctions Act in July 2023. Presentation of the final bill to the House of Representatives is planned for mid-2024.