EU list of terrorist organisations (Council Regulations [EC] No. 2580/2001 and No. 881/2002)

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The European Union (EU) responded to the 9/11 terrorist attacks by measures including the Council Regulation (EC) No. 2580/2001, with this Regulation particularly serving to counteract the financing of international terrorism, i.a. by freezing assets or prohibiting business contact with terrorists and terrorist organisations. The persons and organisations affected are included in a list enclosed to the Regulation. In addition, the Council Regulation (EC) No. 881/2002 lists certain individuals who were resp. have been associated with Usama Bin Ladin or with the al-Qaeda network and the Taleban.

Both lists are updated on particular occasions.

The Council Regulations (EC) especially facilitate confiscating funds and blocking accounts of terrorists and terrorist organisations. Besides, these Regulations bring about stricter rules for international trade, i.a. by the Foreign Trade and Payments Act, so as to prevent material or financial support of international terrorism at an early stage.