Council Regulation (EC) No 194/2008 (repealed)Show full title

Council Regulation (EC) No 194/2008

of 25 February 2008

renewing and strengthening the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar and repealing Regulation (EC) No 817/2006 (repealed)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 60 and 301 thereof,

Having regard to Common Position 2007/750/CFSP of 19 November 2007 amending Common Position 2006/318/CFSP renewing restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar(1),

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) On 28 October 1996, the Council, concerned at the absence of progress towards democratisation and at the continuing violation of human rights in Burma/Myanmar, imposed certain restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar by Common Position 1996/635/CFSP(2). These measures were subsequently extended and amended by Common Position 2000/346/CFSP(3), repealed and replaced by Common Position 2003/297/CFSP(4), and then renewed by Common Position 2004/423/CFSP(5), reinforced by Common Position 2004/730/CFSP(6), amended by Common Position 2005/149/CFSP(7) and extended and amended by Common Position 2005/340/CFSP(8). The Council further adopted Common Position 2006/318/CFSP(9) in view of the political situation in Burma/Myanmar, as witnessed by:

• the failure of the military authorities to enter into substantive discussions with the democratic movement concerning a process leading to national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy,

• the failure to allow a genuine and open National Convention,

• the continuing detention of Daw Aung San Suu Kyi, other members of the National League for Democracy (NLD) and other political detainees,

• the continued harassment of the NLD and other organised political movements,

• the continuing serious violations of human rights, including the failure to take action to eradicate the use of forced labour in accordance with the recommendations of the International Labour Organisation’s High-Level Team report of 2001 and recommendations and proposals of subsequent ILO missions; and

• recent developments such as increasing restrictions on the operation of international organisations and non-governmental organisations.

(2) Common Position 2006/318/CFSP therefore provided for the maintenance of the restrictive measures against the military regime in Burma/Myanmar, those who benefit most from its misrule and those who actively frustrate the process of national reconciliation, respect for human rights and democracy. The restrictive measures provided for by Common Position 2006/318/CFSP included an arms embargo, a ban on technical assistance, financing and financial assistance related to military activities, a ban on the export of equipment which might be used for internal repression, the freezing of funds and economic resources of members of the Government of Burma/Myanmar and of any natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, a travel ban on such natural persons, and a prohibition on making financial loans or credits available to, and on acquiring or extending a participation in, Burmese state-owned enterprises.

(3) Some of the restrictive measures imposed against Burma/Myanmar were implemented at Community level by Council Regulation (EC) No 817/2006 of 29 May 2006 renewing the restrictive measures in respect of Burma/Myanmar and repealing Regulation (EC) No 798/2004(10).

(4) In reaction to the brutal repression perpetrated by the Burmese authorities against peaceful protestors in September 2007 and the continuing serious violations of human rights in Burma/Myanmar, the Council decided on 19 November 2007 to apply further restrictive measures against that country’s military regime, in addition to those already in place in accordance with Common Position 2006/318/CFSP.

(5) Common Position 2007/750/CFSP provides for new restrictive measures concerning certain imports from, exports to and investments in Burma/Myanmar, targeting its timber industry and certain extractive industries.

It also calls for broadening the scope of the existing restrictions on investment to also apply in respect of investment in enterprises owned or controlled by persons or entities associated with the military regime, and for broadening the categories of persons targeted by the freezing of funds and economic resources to include also additional senior serving members of the Burmese military.

(6) For more than a decade, the Council and members of the international community have repeatedly condemned the Burmese/Myanmar regime’s practice of torture, summary and arbitrary executions, forced labour, abuse of women, political arrests, forced displacement of the population and restrictions on the fundamental rights of freedom of speech, movement and assembly. Taking into account the regime’s longstanding, continuing serious violations of fundamental rights, including the recent brutal repression of peaceful demonstrations, the restrictive measures in this Regulation are instrumental in promoting respect for fundamental human rights and thus serve the purpose of protecting public morals.

(7) The new restrictive measures target sectors which provide sources of revenue for the military regime of Burma/Myanmar. Therefore the new restrictive measures apply to wood and wood products, and to coal, gold, silver, certain base metals and precious and semi-precious stones. In these sectors, certain measures restrict imports, exports and investments. The list of entities to which the new restrictions on investment and financial assistance for exports should correspond to the list established in Annex I to Common Position 2007/750/CFSP which lists entities in Burma/Myanmar involved in these targeted sectors.

(8) These restrictions are designed to prevent those subject to EC jurisdiction from deriving benefits from trade which promotes or otherwise facilitates the implementation of such policies, which are in breach of international law and are incompatible with the principles of liberty, democracy, respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms, and the rule of law, which are common to the Member States.

(9) The scope of the ban on investment imposed by Regulation (EC) No 817/2006 should be aligned with Common Position 2007/750/CFSP, and the lists of persons, entities and bodies subject to the restrictive measures of that Regulation should be updated.

(10) The list of equipment which might be used for internal repression should be updated following recommendations made by experts, taking into account Council Regulation (EC) No 1236/2005 of 27 June 2005 concerning trade in certain goods which could be used for capital punishment, torture or other cruel, inhuman or degrading treatment or punishment(11).

(11) Certain of the abovementioned measures fall within the scope of the EC Treaty and, therefore, notably with a view to ensuring their uniform application by economic operators in all Member States, Community legislation is necessary to implement them as far as the Community is concerned.

(12) For the sake of clarity, a new text containing all the relevant provisions as amended should be adopted, replacing Regulation (EC) No 817/2006 which should be repealed.

(13) This Regulation should enter into force on the day of its publication so as to ensure that the measures provided for in it are effective,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

(1)

OJ L 308, 24.11.2007, p. 1.

(2)

OJ L 287, 8.11.1996, p. 1.

(3)

OJ L 122, 24.5.2000, p. 1.

(4)

OJ L 106, 29.4.2003, p. 36. Common Position as last amended by Decision 2003/907/CFSP (OJ L 340, 24.12.2003, p. 81).

(5)

OJ L 125, 28.4.2004, p. 61. Common Position as last amended by Common Position 2005/340/CFSP (OJ L 108, 29.4.2005, p. 88).

(6)

OJ L 323, 26.10.2004, p. 17.

(7)

OJ L 49, 22.2.2005, p. 37.

(8)

OJ L 108, 29.4.2005, p. 88.

(9)

OJ L 116, 29.4.2006, p. 77. Common Position as last amended by Common Position 2007/750/CFSP.

(10)

OJ L 148, 2.6.2006, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 830/2007 (OJ L 185, 17.7.2007, p. 1).

(11)

OJ L 200, 30.7.2005, p. 1. Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1791/2006 (OJ L 363, 20.12.2006, p. 1).