Baselining Survey of Company Perceptions of UK Sanctions

The Economic Deterrence Initiative (EDI) was announced by the British Government in 2023. The initiative includes funding for improvements to the implementation and enforcement of UK sanctions, among other things, over a period of two years.

Since April 2023, a series of EDI-funded projects have begun, that are building new systems and capability in government, primarily within the United Kingdom, to support and deliver an improvement in sanctions implementation and compliance. EDI funding is available for HMG-managed projects until March 2025. The expectation is that any projects or activity continuing after that date will be mainstreamed onto the lead governmental department's baseline.

Key to understanding the success of EDI's project interventions is measuring how perceptions of UK sanctions implementation change among those in private sector and non-governmental organisations based in the UK most affected by sanctions, and therefore by any changes brought about by the EDI project interventions, over the target period (between the start of the project and March 2025).

The principal goal of the EDI portfolio is to increase the effectiveness and deterrent effect of UK sanctions, by ensuring that those who need to comply with UK sanctions have the awareness and information they need to do so; driving up compliance while removing unnecessary barriers to legitimate business.