COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION: Adopts additional restrictive measures

BREAKING NEWS

Burma/Myanmar:
Council adopts additional restrictive measures

2830th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting

Brussels, 19 November 2007

The Council adopted today a common position amending common position 2006/318/CFSP
renewing restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar in view of the seriousness of the current situation in the country (14443/07). This follows a political agreement by the Council on 15 October.

The common position is aimed at :

− reinforcing existing measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar by extending and updating the list of persons subject to a travel ban and a freezing of assets. The scope of the investment ban on Burmese State-owned enterprises is also extended by including enterprises that are owned or controlled by the regime or by persons or entities associated with the regime.

− introducing additional restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar by targeting the sources of revenue of the regime, including in sectors where human rights abuses are common. To that end, it prohibits the export from the member states to Burma/Myanmar of relevant equipment and technology destined for enterprises engaged in the industries of logging,timber, and mining of metals and minerals, precious or semi-precious stones, as well as related technical and financial assistance. It also prohibits the import into the Community of round logs, timber and timber products, metals and minerals, as well as precious and semi-precious stones. Moreover, new investments in enterprises in Burma/Myanmar that are engaged in these industries are also prohibited.

Last October the Council strongly condemned the brutal repression perpetrated by Burmese authorities against peaceful protestors and the continuing serious violations of human rights in Burma/Myanmar.

The Council adopted common position 2006/318/CFSP renewing restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar in April 2006. These measures confirmed and updated previous measures, the first of which were adopted in 1996.

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