From Policy to Practice: Navigating EU Sanctions Evolution, Evasion Risks, and Real-World Compliance Challenges

We will provide an overview of key global developments, including the accelerated pace of sanctions listings, heightened enforcement intensity, the partial easing of measures related to Syria, sustained pressure on Iran, and the growing divergence between EU and U.S. sanctions strategies.

The session will examine the EU’s measures against Russia, highlighting the shift from targeted SWIFT exclusions toward broader transaction and service restrictions, enhanced scrutiny of crypto-asset channels, oil price cap enforcement, action against the so-called “shadow fleet,” and the expanding focus on third-country facilitators of sanctions circumvention. Particular attention will be given to the anticipated 20th EU sanctions package and its expected emphasis on evasion networks and the resulting compliance implications.

A dedicated segment will explore the increasing convergence between AML/CFT and sanctions compliance, including the move from static list screening to network-based risk detection, strengthened ownership and control analysis, geographic risk assessment, and the monitoring of digital identifiers and other non-traditional exposure indicators.

Finally, the webinar will address the evolving supervisory and enforcement environment, including the new EU Directive criminalising sanctions breaches, the role of the European supervisory architecture (including EBA guidance and AMLA developments), and operational challenges arising from regulatory initiatives such as the Instant Payments Regulation.

The session is designed for compliance officers, AML/CFT professionals, risk managers, legal counsel, and senior executives seeking a technically grounded and practice-oriented understanding of sanctions compliance.

Speakers

The webinar will be delivered by Jekaterina Govina, representing the European Compliance Professionals Association, and Vincent Gaudel from LexisNexis Risk Solutions.

Jekaterina Govina is a compliance professional actively engaged in strengthening the compliance community through training, certification, and professional dialogue within ECPA. Her work focuses on promoting best practices and advancing professional standards across the region.

Vincent Gaudel is a sanctions and financial crime expert with extensive experience in EU and global sanctions regimes. At LexisNexis Risk Solutions, he works on regulatory analysis, risk intelligence, and the practical implementation of sanctions screening and compliance frameworks, advising financial institutions and corporates on emerging regulatory risks.

Organisation and Registration

The session is organised by the European Compliance Professionals Association together with LexisNexis Risk Solutions. Registration is free of charge. Participants who provide consent will receive invitations to future events organised by ECPA, LexisNexis Risk Solutions, as well as updates and relevant industry news. By registering and giving consent you acknowledge that LexisNexis Risk Solutions and its entities may also contact you regarding their products and services as well as the latest industry insights. You can opt-out of these communications at any time via preference center. We respect your privacy.