Petition against the EU imposing sanctions on private individuals within and outside the EU

Petition addressed to: Die EU-Kommission und die Petitionsausschüsse der EU-Mitgliedsstaaten

The previously unknown practice of the EU to impose disproportionately severe restrictions on freedoms and economic sanctions on citizens (a total of 59 journalists and academics) both within the EU (such as the German Hüseyin Doğru) and outside the EU (most recently the Swiss Jacques Baud) raises fundamental questions about freedom of expression, the rule of law, and democratic fundamental rights.[1]
Such sanctions represent a unilateral instrument of power and – since they are considered a preventive measure – can effectively deprive critics of political decisions of their fundamental rights without a valid legal charge and largely outside the public eye, in order to 'persuade' them to change their behaviour.
The consequences for those affected:

• No entry into the EU and no transit through EU territory (de facto freedom of travel within the EU is revoked).
• Assets within the EU are frozen, meaning no access to bank balances or real estate (prohibition of disposal).
• Prohibition on providing financial means or economic resources, and prohibition on providing services (de facto ban on working within the EU).
• Prohibition on continuing already concluded contracts (prohibition of performance).

The new EU Directive (EU) 2024/1226 stipulates that violations of sanctions, such as providing funds or circumventing sanctions, now constitute criminal offences punishable by significant fines and/or up to five years' imprisonment.
Those affected must apply to their own governments for financial assistance for rent and basic necessities.
All of this is done without informing those affected of their inclusion on the list, without a hearing, and without a valid legal charge.
Those affected can only appeal to the European Court of Justice. This incurs exorbitant legal costs, which the sanctioned individuals can neither earn themselves nor finance through donations.
Sanctions against individuals based on political expression set a dangerous precedent and open the door wide to arbitrary repression.
Meanwhile, a legal opinion has been commissioned by two Members of the European Parliament.[2] The authors are Professor Dr. Alina Miron, an international law scholar from the University of Angers, and Professor Dr. Ninon Colneric, former judge at the European Court of Justice. It was presented on 11 November 2025 in the European Parliament.
Their verdict is clear: The sanctions against journalists such as Hüseyin Doğru, and more recently also against the Swiss military and intelligence expert Jacques Baud, lack a solid legal basis. The EU's concept of disinformation is "dangerously vague" and does not even come close to meeting the minimum rule-of-law standards that are absolutely essential for serious infringements of fundamental rights such as account freezes and travel bans. The EU has in fact imposed professional bans without prior hearing – a Rubicon has been crossed.
[1] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=CELEX%3A32025D2572&qid=1767810251118
(EU decision of 15 December 2025, adding Jacques Baud to the list)
[2] https://bsw-ep.eu/wp-content/uploads/Rechtsgutachten_Sanktionen_gegen_natuerliche_Personen_BSW_von_der_Schulenburg_Firmenich.pdf