Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2022/2177 of 8 November 2022 implementing Regulation (EU) No 401/2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Myanmar/Burma

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) No 401/2013 of 2 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Myanmar/Burma and repealing Regulation (EC) No 194/2008 (1),and in particular Article 4i thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 2 May 2013, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 401/2013.

(2) On 25 July 2022, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’) issued a declaration on behalf of the Union strongly condemning the execution of pro-democracy and opposition leaders in Myanmar/Burma. The High Representative also declared that these politically motivated executions represent yet another step towards the complete dismantling of the rule of law and a further blatant violation of human rights in Myanmar.

(3) The Union is deeply concerned by the continuing escalation of violence and the evolution towards a protracted conflict with regional implications. The Union condemns the continuing grave human rights violations including torture and sexual and gender-based violence, the continued persecution of civil society, human rights defenders and journalists, and attacks on the civilian population, including ethnic and religious minorities, by the Myanmar armed forces.

(4) In the absence of any swift progress in the situation in Myanmar/Burma, on several occasions, the Union expressed readiness to adopt further restrictive measures against those responsible for undermining democracy and the rule of law and for the serious human rights violations in Myanmar/Burma.

(5) In view of the continuing grave situation in Myanmar/Burma, 19 persons and one entity should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies subject to restrictive measures set out in Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 401/2013.

(6) Regulation (EU) No 401/2013 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex IV to Regulation (EU) No 401/2013 is amended as set out in the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the date 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, 8 November 2022.

For the Council The President Z. STANJURA

(1) OJ L 121, 3.5.2013, p. 1.