Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION extending Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe

(presented by the Commission)

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

(1) Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 of 18 February 2002 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe, as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1643/2002 of 13 September 2002, expires on 20 February 2003.

(2) There has been a further deterioration in the situation in Zimbabwe, where serious violations of human rights and freedom of opinion, association and peaceful assembly continue to occur.

(3) Consequently, Common Position 2003/xxx/CFSP of xxx 2003 provides for the extension of the restrictive measures provided for by Common Position 2002/145/CFSP, in particular the freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources of individual members of the government and natural or legal persons associated with them as well as a ban on exports of repression equipment and a ban on technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities.

(4) Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 of 18 February 2002, as amended, should therefore be extended for a further twelve months.

Proposal for a COUNCIL REGULATION extending Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Articles 60 and 301 thereof,

Having regard to Council Common Position 2003/xxx/CFSP of xxxx 2003 amending and extending Common Position 2002/145/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Zimbabwe [1],

[1] See p. of this Official Journal

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission, [2]

[2] OJ C

Whereas:

(1) Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 of 18 February 2002 [3] concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Zimbabwe, as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 1643/2002 , [4] expires on 20 February 2003. However, Article 13 of that Regulation provides expressly for the possibility of renewal.

[3] OJ L 50, 21.2.2002, p 4.

[4] OJ L 247, 14.9.2002, p 22

(2) There has been a further deterioration in the situation in Zimbabwe, where serious violations of human rights and freedom of opinion, association and peaceful assembly continue to occur.

(3) Accordingly, Common Position 2003/xxx/CFSP provides for the extension until 20 February 2004 of the restrictive measures provided for by Common Position 2002/145/CFSP of 18 February 2002 concerning restrictive measures against Zimbabwe [5], as amended by Common Position 2002/600/CFSP. In particular those measures include the freezing of funds, financial assets or economic resources of individual members of the government and natural or legal persons associated with them as well as a ban on exports of equipment capable of use for internal repression, and a ban on technical advice, assistance or training related to military activities.

[5] OJ L 50, 21.2.2002, p 1

(4) Consequently, Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 needs to be extended for a further twelve months,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

The period of application of Regulation (EC) No 310/2002 is extended by twelve months.

That Regulation shall expire on 20 February 2004, unless its period of application is further renewed.

Article 2

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

It shall apply from 21 February 2003.

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

Done at Brussels,

For the Council

The President