EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

(1)Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 of 23 March 2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran gives effect to the measures provided for in Decision 2010/413/CFSP.

(2)On 31 July 2015, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2015/1337 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP and extending until 14 January 2016 the exemption provided for in paragraph 14 of Article 20 concerning acts and transactions carried out with regard to listed entities insofar as necessary for the execution of the obligations provided for in contracts concluded before 23 January 2012 or in ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such obligations where the supply of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products or the proceeds derived from their supply are for the reimbursement of outstanding amounts with respect to contracts concluded before 23 January 2012 to persons or entities within the territories of Member States or under their jurisdiction, where those contracts specifically provide for such reimbursements.

(3)The Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/…/ further extending the abovementioned exemption until 4 February 2016.

(4)Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement this extension.

(5)The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission propose to amend Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 accordingly.

2016/0001 (NLE)

Joint Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 concerning restrictive measures against Iran

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 2010/413/CFSP of 26 July 2010 concerning restrictive measures against Iran and repealing Common Position 2007/140/CFSP,

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

Whereas:

(1)Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012 gives effect to the measures provided for in Decision 2010/413/CFSP.

(2)On 31 July 2015, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2015/1337 amending Decision 2010/413/CFSP to extend until 14 January 2016 the exemption provided for in paragraph 14 of Article 20 concerning acts and transactions carried out with regard to listed entities insofar as necessary for the execution of the obligations provided for in contracts concluded before 23 January 2012 or in ancillary contracts necessary for the execution of such obligations where the supply of Iranian crude oil and petroleum products or the proceeds derived from their supply are for the reimbursement of outstanding amounts with respect to contracts concluded before 23 January 2012 to persons or entities within the territories of Member States or under their jurisdiction, where those contracts specifically provide for such reimbursements.

(3)On … January 2016, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/… further extending the above mentioned exemption until 4 February 2016.

(4)This measure falls within the scope of the Treaty and regulatory action at the level of the Union is therefore necessary in order to implement it, in particular with a view to ensuring its uniform application by economic operators in all Member States.