Criminalisation of sanctions breaches and strengthened enforcement framework

17 December 2025

Romania has recently adopted Law No. 224/2025 (“the Law”), which significantly amends and supplements GEO No. 202/2008 on the implementation of international sanctions. The Law transposes Directive (EU) 2024/1226 and establishes a comprehensive criminal framework applicable to breaches and circumvention of EU sanctions. 

By adopting these amendments, Romania aligns itself with the EU’s wider efforts to harmonise the enforcement of restrictive measures across Member States and moves towards a substantially more robust and centralised sanctions enforcement regime.

The briefing below prepared by our team in Bucharest explores the key issues and takeaways connected to this significant legislative update, while also providing a better understanding on how to properly navigate its new standards.   

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