The EU arms embargo and trade restrictions on Burma (Myanmar)

The European Union arms embargo and trade restrictions on Burma (Myanmar)

The European Union established an arms embargo on Burma at some point prior to the agreement on a Common Position on Burma/Myanmar 1996/635/CFSP in October 1996. The Common position reaffirms the following measures that had already been adopted in 1990 and confirmed in a Declaration by the General Affairs Council on 29 July 1991:

(i) expulsion of all military personnel attached to the diplomatic representations of BurmaMyanmar in Member States of the European Union and withdrawal of all military personnel attached to diplomatic representations of the Member States of the European Union in Burma/Myanmar;

(ii) an embargo on arms, munitions and military equipment and suspension of non-humanitarian aid or development programmes. Exceptions may be made for projects and programmes in support of human rights and democracy as well as those concentrating on poverty alleviation and, in particular, the provision of basic needs for the poorest section of the population, in the context of decentralized cooperation through local civilian authorities and Non-Governmental Organisations;

This embargo covers weapons designed to kill and their ammunition, weapon platforms, non-weapon platforms and ancillary equipment. The embargo also covers spare parts, repairs, maintenance and transfer of military technology. Contracts entered into prior to the date of entry into force of the embargo are not affected by this common position.

However, there is no reference in earlier EU documents to the embargo which was, it is assumed, established through an informal decision among the Member States.

In April 2000, the Council agreed on Council Regulation (EC) No 1081/2000 that supplemented the Common Position by adding a ban on the export from the EU of any equipment that might be used for internal repression or terrorism.

The arms embargo was extended and amended by Common Position 2001/757 until 29 April 2002. Several extensions followed (Common Position 2002/310/CFSP, Common Position 2002/831/CFSP, Common Position 2003/297/CFSP, Council Common Position 2004/423/CFSP), Council Common Position 2005/340/CFSP and most recently Council Common Position 2006/318/CFSP and Council Regulation (EC) No 817/2006.

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