Updated online course enhances knowledge of sanctions

Effective enforcement of sanctions requires up-to-date knowledge and an understanding of sanctions and how they are applied. The Ministry for Foreign Affairs has updated the content of the Introduction to Sanctions online course, which is open to everyone. The online course is now also available in Swedish.

Since the online course was first published, sanctions and related regulation have evolved. The online course has therefore been updated to take into account the changes in the sanctions regimes and reflect current interpretations and practices. It has also been published in Swedish to improve the accessibility of the course and strengthen knowledge of sanctions in Finland. The course is now available in Finnish, Swedish and English.

The course provides an overview of the fundamentals of sanctions regimes and compliance. Many core elements, including concepts such as assets, economic resources and an asset freeze and the principles underlying export and import bans are common to different sanction regimes. The course focuses on regulations relating to the extensive sanctions regimes against Russia and provides illustrative examples. It includes a section on how to identify sanctions evasion and circumvention, providing businesses and the authorities with practical guidance for due diligence.

The Introduction to Sanctions online course is open to everyone interested in the topic and can be completed free of charge on the eOppiva learning platform. Registration in the service is required for obtaining a certificate for the course. The course takes approximately two hours to complete, but its content can also be browsed freely.

The Ministry for Foreign Affairs is the national competent authority responsible for the implementation and enforcement of EU sanctions, with several other authorities contributing to these efforts within their competence. The Ministry’s Unit for Sanctions advises the authorities, companies and other actors in matters related to the interpretation and implementation of sanctions.

The Unit for Sanctions can be reached through the MFA Service Portal.