The European Commission is setting up a dedicated EU Sanctions Office. Commissioner Maria Luís Albuquerque wrote about it on LinkedIn on 5 November 2026, after the tenth meeting of the High-Level Group on Union Restrictive Measures. She welcomed President von der Leyen's decision to create the office.
The next day, a journalist asked for more detail at the Commission's midday press briefing. Spokesperson Siobhan McGarry confirmed a "new sanctions office inside the Commission".
What the office will do
The Commissioner described it like this:
"By bringing together the entire sanctions lifecycle - from policy design to implementation, enforcement support and anti-circumvention - it will strengthen coordination, provide faster guidance to Member States and improve data sharing and analysis. In this way, we can present a more united front on the global stage, engage better with our G7 and likeminded partners, and deliver stronger impact and more effective implementation within the EU and outside."
At the briefing, the spokesperson added that Member States should get quicker access to guidance, data sharing and analysis.
What we do not know yet
As of 9 November 2026, the Commission has not published a legal act, a head of office, a staff number or a start date.
Nothing changes for companies today. The Council still adopts EU sanctions, and the authorities in each Member State still enforce them.
Why we think this is good news
Faster guidance and more data sharing are exactly what we heard in our interviews with trade compliance professionals. Companies want to know sooner how a new measure applies to them, and they want the same answer in every Member State. That matters even more for EU companies that are expanding into new markets.
There is another side to it. A better organised Commission could also mean more complex measures in the future.
Sanctions are changing fast
On 12 October 2026, the EU added 1,569 listings in one day. More countries now publish their own sanctions and export control lists as well, China for example.
So it is good to see the EU getting more organised on this front. We will follow the office as the details are published.
Sources: Commission press briefing, 6 November 2026 and Commission news, 5 November 2026.