The European Union’s new sanctions regime regarding abuse of human rights will enter force on December 8, according to the publication in the official journal.

“This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union”, - the regulation read.

The new regulation applies to genocide, crimes against humanity, human trafficking, abuses of freedom of peaceful assembly, freedom of opinion, freedom of religion and belief. The bloc plans to enforce it only on its own territory.

Under the new regime, which will target individuals and entities, the EU can ban entry to the bloc, freeze the assets of a person or an organization in the EU and ban any EU citizen or company from providing any economic support to the persons designated under this regime.

EU foreign policy high representative as well as member states can propose a person or entity to be designated. The final decision is made by the European Council.