DESCRIPTION

The Compliance Lunch Debate, titled “International Sanctions. From geopolitics to enforcement: Decision-making in practice”, will focus on how sanctions regimes in 2026 directly affect institutional decision-making, as well as on how to address sanctions-related uncertainty in practice and respond to supervisory expectations.

In a context shaped by geopolitical tensions and an increasingly fragmented international order, sanctions have become a central enforcement tool with direct consequences on transaction flows, counterpart relationships and escalation processes within institutions.

In 2026, institutions must navigate a complex web of sanctions regimes. EU sanctions increasingly translate policy objectives into concrete enforcement actions, while US sanctions and OFAC measures raise critical questions regarding their legal reach and practical impact beyond US borders. UK and other national sanctions regimes add further layers of complexity. Applying sanctions in practice requires institutions to identify the nature and scope of sanctions, manage overlapping or potentially conflicting regimes, and ensure consistent implementation at transaction level. These challenges are further amplified by enforcement trends, countermeasures adopted by affected parties or states, and legal uncertainty around possible sanctions relief or lifting, including scenarios where sanctions are lifted unevenly or not simultaneously. At national level, Belgian domestic sanctions screening also deserves reflection after one year of application.

Join us on Monday, 20 April, in Brussels or online, to enhance your daily work and decision-making processes, and connect with peers and colleagues.

Participation in the Compliance Lunch Debate on 20 April is worth 1.5 points for the continuing education of Compliance Officers, and up to 9 points when attending the full series (6 editions). Company Lawyer, Lawyers and trainee lawyers may submit an individual application to the IBJ-IJE, OBFG or OVB.