Date: 2025-09-30Category: Not ApplicableState: Union GovernmentCountry: Europe
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1974 of 29 September 2025 implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua
**Executive Summary**
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1974, dated 29 September 2025, amends Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 concerning restrictive measures against Nicaragua. The amendment updates the statement of reasons for two listed natural persons. The regulation enters into force the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Key Points / Main Content**
* **Amendment of Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716:**
* Entries 7 and 9 under the heading "A. Natural persons referred to in Article 2" in Annex I are replaced.
* **Updated Information for Listed Individuals:**
* **Rosario María MURILLO ZAMBRANA:** Co-President of Nicaragua since February 2025 (previously Vice President since 2017), identified as responsible for serious human rights violations, repression of civil society and democratic opposition, and undermining democracy in Nicaragua. Originally listed 2.8.2021.
* **Juan Antonio VALLE VALLE:** Leader in Nicaraguan National Police (General/Senior Commissioner), identified as responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua. Originally listed 2.8.2021.
* **Entry into Force:**
* The Regulation comes into force on the day following its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
**Impact Analysis**
**European Union Member States**
* **Impact:** The Regulation is binding in its entirety and directly applicable, requiring Member States to implement the updated restrictive measures.
* **Action Required:** Ensure the amended sanctions regime concerning the listed individuals is enforced within their jurisdiction.
**Rosario María MURILLO ZAMBRANA and Juan Antonio VALLE VALLE**
* **Impact:** Continued enforcement of restrictive measures against them.
* **Action Required:** No action specified.
Key Entities Referenced
Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2025/1974: The main implementing regulation itself.
Regulation (EU) 2019/1716: The original Council Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Nicaragua, which this implementing regulation amends.
Rosario María MURILLO ZAMBRANA: Co-President of Nicaragua, subject to restrictive measures, and whose listing information is updated in the Annex.
Juan Antonio VALLE VALLE: Leader in Nicaraguan National Police, subject to restrictive measures, and whose listing information is updated in the Annex.
Nicaragua: The country to which the restrictive measures apply.
Official Journal EN
of the European Union L series
2025/1974 30.9.2025
COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2025/1974
of 29 September 2025
implementing Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in
Nicaragua
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,
Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 of 14 October 2019 concerning restrictive measures in view of the
situation in Nicaragua(1), and in particular Article 13(1) thereof,
Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,
Whereas:
(1) On 14 October 2019, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2019/1716.
(2) The Council has reviewed the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set
out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716. On the basis of that review, the statement of reasons for two natural
persons should be updated.
(3) Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:
Article 1
Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.
Article 2
This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.
Done at Brussels, 29 September 2025.
For the Council
The President
M. BØDSKOV
(1) OJ L 262, 15.10.2019, p. 1, ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg/2019/1716/oj.
ELI: http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1974/oj 1/3ANNEX
In Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2019/1716, under the heading ‘A. Natural persons referred to in Article 2’, entries 7 and 9 are replaced by the following:
Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing
‘7. Rosario María MURILLO Position(s): Co-President of the Republic of Co-President of Nicaragua since February 2025, First Lady of Nicaragua and a leader 2.8.2021
ZAMBRANA Nicaragua (since February 2025, previously of the Sandinista Youth. Vice President of Nicaragua from January 2017 to February
Vice President, since 2017). Wife of President 2025. She played an instrumental role in encouraging and justifying the repression of
Alias: Rosario María MURILLO
Daniel Ortega opposition demonstrations by the Nicaraguan National Police in 2018. In June 2021,
DE ORTEGA
she publicly threatened the Nicaraguan opposition and discredited independent
Date of birth: 22 June 1951
journalists. Those threats have been repeated since then. In February 2023, Daniel
Place of birth: Managua, Nicaragua Ortega revealed that Rosario María Murillo Zambrana is the instigator of new
repressions, namely related to the expulsion and deprivation of citizenship of 222
Gender: female political prisoners.
Nationality: Nicaraguan She is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations, for the repression of
civil society and democratic opposition, and for undermining democracy in
Passport number: A00000106 (Nicaragua)
Nicaragua.
2/3
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1974/oj
EN
OJ
L,
30.9.2025Name Identifying information Reasons Date of listing
9. Juan Antonio VALLE VALLE Position(s): Leader in Nicaraguan National As leader in the rank of senior commissioner (second highest rank) of the Nicaraguan 2.8.2021’
Police National Police (NNP) and until February 2025 in a leading position in the police in
Managua, Juan Antonio Valle Valle is responsible for repeated acts of police brutality
Rank: General/Senior Commissioner
and the excessive use of force which resulted in the deaths of hundreds of civilians, for
Date of birth: 4 May 1963 arbitrary arrests and detentions, for violations of freedom of expression and for
preventing demonstrations against the government.
Place of birth: Matagalpa, Nicaragua
He is therefore responsible for serious human rights violations and for the repression
Gender: male of civil society and democratic opposition in Nicaragua.
Nationality: Nicaraguan
ELI:
http://data.europa.eu/eli/reg_impl/2025/1974/oj
3/3
OJ
L,
30.9.2025
EN