Restrictive Measures

The importance of restrictive measures is highlighted in the fight against terrorism and terrorist financing, the proliferation of weapons of mass destruction and the financing of such proliferation, as well as in preventing or stopping activities that threaten international peace and security and other conduct contrary to the purposes of the Charter of the United Nations. This also constitutes an international obligation of Montenegro. Restrictive measures target states and designated persons (individuals and legal entities, subjects and bodies) that meet the criteria established by relevant instruments. They are applied on the basis of resolutions of the United Nations Security Council, instruments of the European Union, instruments of another international organization of which Montenegro is a member, or decisions of the Government. By nature, restrictive measures are divided into individual measures—against designated persons (targeted sanctions)—and sectoral measures, such as restrictions on economic relations. Restrictive measures include restrictions on the disposal of funds and assets (freezing), restrictions on entry into or residence in the national territory (for individuals, vessels and aircraft), arms, ammunition and dual-use goods embargoes, and economic and financial measures, including restrictions on the import, transit and export of goods, as well as other measures concerning rights, services and goods. In relation to states, diplomatic or economic sanctions may be imposed for reasons including the disruption of peace and security, gross violations of the Charter of the United Nations and international law—particularly human rights and humanitarian law—as well as violations of democracy and the rule of law. In the process of carefully defining restrictive measures, the principle of proportionality is applied, meaning that the measures must be proportionate to their objective.