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The EU can freeze Russian State and private assets as sanctions. This is justified as "countermeasure" to exert pressure upon Russia that it ends its criminal war of aggression. However, sanctions do not cover definitive measures; freezing cannot be considered as a first step to confiscation. Therefore, the Commission plans "active management" of the frozen assets in order to obtain net return while ensuring the return of the assets themselves. Moreover, assets can be confiscated by the Member States on the basis of criminal confiscation regimes which the Union can harmonize. Such confiscations generally require evidence of a specific criminal offence, typically through a conviction. In some cases, confiscation may also be possible without a criminal conviction provided that a court is satisfied that all the elements of a specif⁠ic criminal offense, or at least a nexus with criminal activity, are present. To make possible more confiscations, the EU has created the new crime of violation or circumvention of sanctions. The idea is that the "proceeds" of such Euro-crimes would have to be transferred to the EU or to Ukraine. In any way, some nexus to a severe crime needs to be established for confiscations compatible with the rule of law.

In June 2004, at least three decisions of British, European, & American high courts dealt with the relationship of religion, state, & society, in particular the question of state tolerance or state neutrality with respect to religion. This article focuses on the question of laissez-ism & positive & negative religious freedom in public realms, focusing on the conflict between Christianity & Islam in the German state model of cooperation between church & state & the French & American model of separation of church & state. The English state religion model is not considered. It is only in a partnership-like cooperation between church, religious communities, & state that a transparent discourse over values can occur. Separation of church & state results in a loss of necessary cohesiveness & association to a value measured foundation & thereby avoids problems rather than solves them. L. Reed