EU launches EU Sanctions Helpdesk to support SMEs 

The EU Sanctions Helpdesk is a new initiative funded by the European Union to assist small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) in navigating the complex and expanding landscape of EU sanctions. Sanctions, as part of the EU’s common foreign and security policy, are used as tools to address global issues and include measures like asset freezes for individuals or sectoral restrictions on trade, finance, and energy. Currently, the EU manages over 40 sanctions regimes worldwide, which continue to grow as geopolitical tensions rise.

The complexity of these sanctions poses significant challenges for SMEs, increasing their risk of non-compliance and, in some cases, leading to “de-risking” practices where businesses avoid certain markets o