Columbia International Affairs Online: Policy Briefs

CIAO DATE: 12/2008

PolicyWatch #1409: Al-Qaeda and Taliban Sanctions Threatened

Richard Barrett

October 2008

The Washington Institute for Near East Policy

Abstract

In early September, the European Court of Justice (ECJ) -- the highest court in the European Union -- ruled that the EU's application of UN sanctions against Yasin Qadi and the al-Barakaat International Foundation infringed their basic rights, and declared the action illegal under EU law. Although the judgment applies only to these two parties, the ruling has far-reaching consequences, for not only the EU but also the entire UN system of targeted sanctions.