COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) 2020/1311

of 21 September 2020

amending Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2013/798/CFSP of 23 December 2013 concerning restrictive measures against the Central African Republic (1),

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) On 10 March 2014, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 (2) in order to give effect to certain measures provided for in Decision 2013/798/CFSP.

(2) On 28 July 2020, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2536 (2020). That Resolution extends the exemptions to the arms embargo.

(3) On 21 September 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1312 (3), which amends Decision 2013/798/CFSP in accordance with Resolution 2536 (2020).

(4) Certain of these amendments fall within the scope of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and regulatory action at the level of the Union is therefore necessary in order to implement them together with technical adjustments in light of previous UNSC Resolutions, in particular with a view to ensuring their uniform application by economic operators in all Member States.

(5) Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1 In Article 3 of Regulation (EU) No 224/2014, the following points are added: ‘(e) related to weapons with a calibre of 14,5 mm or less and ammunition and components specially designed for such weapons, and to unarmed ground military vehicles and ground military vehicles mounted with weapons with a calibre of 14,5 mm or less, and their spare parts, and to rocket-propelled grenades, and ammunition specially designed for such weapons, to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions, where such weapons, ammunition, components and vehicles are intended solely for support of, or use in, the CAR process of SSR, provided that the provision of such assistance or services has been notified at least 20 days in advance to the Sanctions Committee; (f) related to arms and other related lethal equipment that are not listed in point (e) of Article 3, to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions, where such arms and equipment are intended solely for support of, or use in, the CAR process of SSR, as approved in advance by the Sanctions Committee.’.

Article 2 This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that 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, 21 September 2020. For the Council The President J. BORRELL FONTELLES

(1) OJ L 352, 24.12.2013, p. 51.

(2) Council Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 of 10 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic (OJ L 70, 11.3.2014, p. 1).

(3) Council Decision (CFSP) 2020/1312of 21 September 2020 amending Decision 2013/798/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the Central African Republic (see page 3 of this Official Journal).