The European Council has officially approved the directive on pan-European minimum rules for prosecuting violations or circumventions of EU sanctions in member states, according to the Council’s announcement. The directive stipulates that member states must classify certain actions as criminal offenses. These include: aiding individuals subject to EU restrictive measures in circumventing travel bans,trading in sanctioned goods and conducting deals with states or organizations subject to EU restrictive measures,providing financial services or engaging in financial activities that are prohibited…