Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Liberia

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

(1) In its Resolution 1408 (2002) of 6 May 2002, the United Nations Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, decided to extend the restrictive measures imposed on Liberia for its support for the RUF in Sierra Leone and other armed rebel groups in the region, laid down in UNSC Resolution 1343 (2001) of 7 March 2001.

(2) In accordance with Resolution 1343 the prohibition of the provision of technical advice and training related to military activities and the prohibition of all imports of rough diamonds originating in, or coming from, Liberia is laid down in Council Regulation (EC) No 1146 of 11 June 2001, which expired 8 May 2002 and therefore it is necessary to adopt a new Regulation extending the restrictive measures.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Liberia

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

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

Having regard to Council Common Position 2001/357/CFSP of 7 May 2001 [1] as amended and extended by Council Common Position 2002/.../CFSP of ... May 2002 ... [2],

[1] OJ L 126, 8.5.2001, p.

[2] OJ L ...., ... .5.2002, p.

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1) In its Resolution 1408 (2002) of 6 May 2002, the United Nations Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, decided to extend the restrictive measures imposed on Liberia for its support for the RUF in Sierra Leone and other armed rebel groups in the region, laid down in UNSC Resolution 1343 (2001) of 7 March 2001.

(2) Certain of these measures fall under the scope of the Treaty and, therefore, notably with a view to avoiding distortion of competition, Community legislation is necessary to implement the relevant decisions of the Security Council as far as the territory of the Community is concerned. For the purpose of this Regulation, the territory of the Community is deemed to encompass the territories of the Member States to which the Treaty is applicable, under the conditions laid down in that Treaty.

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

1. Without prejudice to the powers of the Member States in the exercise of their public authority, it shall be prohibited to provide Liberia with technical training or assistance related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance or use of arms and related material of all types including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned.

2. The prohibition referred to in paragraph 1 shall not apply in cases where the Committee established by paragraph 14 of UNSCR 1343(2001) has granted an exemption in advance. Such exemptions shall be obtained through the competent authorities of the Member States listed in Annex I to this Regulation.

Article 2

1. The direct or indirect import into the Community of all rough diamonds from Liberia, as defined in Annex II of his Regulation, whether originating there or not, shall be prohibited.

2. The Commission is hereby authorised to amend Annex II in order to bring it into line with changes that may be made to the Combined Nomenclature.

Article 3

Without prejudice to the rights and obligations of the Member States under the Charter of the United Nations, the Commission shall maintain all necessary contacts with the Committee established by paragraph 14 of UNSCR 1343(2001) for the purpose of the effective implementation of this Regulation.

Article 4

The Commission and the Member States shall immediately inform each other of the measures taken under this Regulation and shall supply each other with relevant information at their disposal in connection with this Regulation, in particular information in respect of violation and enforcement problems and judgements handed down by national courts.

Article 5

This Regulation shall apply notwithstanding any rights conferred, or obligations imposed, by any international agreement signed or any contract entered into or any licence or permit granted before the entry into force of this Regulation.

Article 6

1. Each Member State shall determine the sanctions to be imposed where the provisions of this Regulation are infringed. Such sanctions shall be effective, proportionate and dissuasive. Pending the adoption, where necessary, of any legislation to this end, the sanctions to be imposed where the provisions of this Regulation are infringed, shall be those determined by the Member States in order to give effect to Article 6 of Regulation (EC) 1146/2001 [3].

[3] OJ L 156, 13.6.2001, p. 1.

2. Each Member State shall be responsible for bringing proceedings against any natural or legal person, entity or body under its jurisdiction, in cases of violation of any of the prohibitions laid down in this Regulation by such person, entity or body.

Article 7

This Regulation shall apply

- within the territory of the Community, including its airspace,

- on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State,

- to any person elsewhere who is a national of a Member State, and

- to any legal person, entity or body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State.

Article 8

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.

This Regulation shall cease to apply on 8 May 2003.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President

ANNEX I

List of competent authorities referred to in Article 1.2

(to be revised where necessary)

BELGIUM

Ministère des affaires étrangères, du commerce extérieur et de la coopération au développement

Egmont 1,

Rue des Petits Carmes 19

B-1000 Bruxelles

Tel: (32 2)

Télécopieur: (32 2)

Direction des relations économiques et bilatérales extérieures

a) Service Afrique du Sud du Sahara (B.22),

Tél.: (32 2) 501 85 77

b) Coordination de la politique commerciale (B.40)

Tél.: (32 2) 501 83 20

c) Service transports (B.42),

Tél.: (32 2) 501 37 62

Télécopieur: (32 2) 501 88 27

Ministère des affaires économiques

ARE 4 o division, service des licences

Avenue du Général Leman 60

B-1040 Bruxelles

Tél.: (32 2) 206 58 16/27

Télécopieur: (32 2) 230 83 22

DENMARK

Erhvervs og Bolig Styrelsen

Dahlerups Pakhus

Langelinie Allé 17

DK-2100 København Ø

Tlf. (45) 35 46 60 00

Fax (45) 35 46 60 01

Udenrigsministeriet

Asiatisk Plads 2

DK-1448 Copenhagen K

Tlf. (45) 33 92 00 00

Fax (45) 32 54 05 33

GERMANY

Bundesamt für Wirtschaft und Ausfuhrkontrolle (BAFA)

Frankfurter Strasse 29-35

D-65760 Eschborn

Tel (49-6196) 908-0

Fax:

GREECE

Ministry of National Economy

General Secretariat for International Economic Relations

General Directorate for Policy Planning and Management

1 Kornarou str., 105 63 Athens

Tel. 01/328.64.01-3

Fax 01/328.64.04

Greek text

SPAIN

Ministerio de Economía

Dirección General de Comercio Inversiones

Paseo de la Castellana, 162

E-28046 Madrid

Tel. (34) 913 49 38 60

Fax (34) 914 57 28 63

FRANCE

Ministère de l'économie, des finances et de l'industrie

Direction générale des douanes et des droits indirects

Cellule embargo - Bureau E2

Tél.: (33 1) 44 74 48 93

Télécopieur: (33 1) 44 74 48 97

Ministère des affaires étrangères

Direction des Nations unies et des organisations internationales

Tél.: (33 1) 43 17 59 68

Télécopieur: (33 1) 43 17 46 91

IRELAND

Department of Public Enterprise

Aviation Regulation and International Affairs Division

44 Kildare Street

Dublin 2

Tel. (353 1) 604 10 50

Fax (353 1) 670 74 11

ITALY

Ministero degli Affari esteri

D.G.A.E.-Uff. X

Roma

Tel. (0039) 06 36 91 37 50

Fax (00 39) 06 36 91 37 52

Ministero del Commercio estero

Gabinetto

Roma

Tel. (0039) 06 59 93 23 10

Fax (0039) 06 59 64 74 94

Ministero dei Trasporti

Gabinetto

Roma

Tel. (0039) 06 44 26 71 16/84 90 40 94

Fax (0039) 06 44 26 71 14

LUXEMBOURG

Ministère des affaires étrangères

Direction des relations économiques internationales et de la coopération

BP 1602

L-1016 Luxembourg

Tel

Télécopieur

NETHERLANDS

Ministerie van Buitenlandse Zaken

Directie Verenigde Naties

Afdeling Politieke Zaken

2594 AC Den Haag

Tel.: (0031-70) 348 42 06

Fax: (0031-70) 348 67 49

AUSTRIA

Bundesministerium für wirtschaftliche Angelegenheiten

Abteilung II/A/2

Landstrasser Hauptstraûe 55-57

A-1030 Wien

Tel

Fax

Bundesministerium für Wissenschaft und Verkehr

Oberste Zivilluftfahrtbehörde (OZB)

Radetzkystraûe 2

A-1030 Wien

Tel

Fax

Österreichische Nationalbank

Otto Wagner Platz 3,

A-1090 Wien

Tel. (43 1) 404 20-0

Fax (43 1) 404 20 73 99

PORTUGAL

Ministério dos Negócios Estrangeiros

Direcção-Geral dos Assuntos Multilaterais

Largo do Rilvas

P-1350-179 Lisboa

Tel (351 21)394 60 72

Fax (351 21) 394 60 73

FINLAND

Ulkoasiainministeriö/ Utrikesministeriet

PB 176

00161 Helsingfors

Tel (358-9) 16 05 59 00

Fax (358-9) 16 05 57 07

SWEDEN

Regeringskansliet

Utrikesdepartementet

Rättssekretariatet för EU-frågor

Fredsgatan 6

S-103 39 Stockholm

Tfn: (0046-8) 405 10 00

Fax: (0046-8) 723 11 76

UNITED KINGDOM

Foreign and Commonwealth Office

Sanctions Unit

United Nations Department

King Charles Street

London

SW1A 2AH

Tel. (44-207) 72 70 36 39

Fax. (44-207) 72 70 14 73

Export Control Organisation

Department of Trade and Industry

Kingsgate House

66-74 Victoria Street

London SW1E 6SW

Tel. (44 171) 215 6740

Fax (44 171) 222 0612

ANNEX II

Rough diamonds referred to in Article 2

CN code // Product description

Ex 7102 10 00 // Unsorted diamonds, unworked and not mounted or set

7102 21 00 // Industrial diamonds, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted

7102 31 00 // Non-industrial diamonds, unworked or simply sawn, cleaved or bruted

7105 10 00 // Dust and powder of diamonds