THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215(1) thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2010/656/CFSP of 29 October 2010 renewing the restrictive measures against Côte d'Ivoire,
Having regard to the joint proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1)
Decision 2010/656/CFSP repealed Council Common Position 2004/852/CFSP and renewed the restrictive measures imposed against Côte d'Ivoire in order to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution (‘UNSCR’) 1572 (2004) and successor UNSCRs. Council Regulation (EC) No 174/2005 was adopted to give effect to Common Position 2004/852/CFSP and now gives effect to Decision 2010/656/CFSP at Union level by imposing restrictions on the supply, to Côte d'Ivoire, of assistance related to military activities.
(2)
An additional derogation from the prohibition on the sale, supply, transfer and export of equipment which might be used for internal repression should be introduced in order to enable the authorisation of certain equipment, where appropriate, for the purposes of civilian use in mining or infrastucture projects, following the adoption of Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/202.
(3)
That measure falls within the scope of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and, therefore, in particular with a view to ensuring uniform application of the measure by economic operators in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement it.
(4)
Regulation (EC) No 174/2005 should therefore be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: