Publication

This paper uses case studies from Iran, Belarus, Syria and Myanmar to analyze the effectiveness of EU sanctions. The authors assess the role of sanctions in an overall foreign policy strategy; the purpose and goals of the policy in terms of coercing, constraining and signaling; the impact of sanctions and the costs incurred by the EU; and the sanctions’ comparative utility. They conclude that restrictive measures positively contribute to shaping the EU’s external relations but recommend the creation of an EU panel of experts who would be tasked with monitoring the sanctions.