2006/114/EC: Council Decision of  14 February 2006  extending the period of application of the measures in Decision 2002/148/EC concluding consultations with Zimbabwe under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement
Date: 2006-02-14
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: EU relations, Zimbabwe, economic sanctions, human rights, political situation, suspension of aid

L 48/26

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

18.2.2006

COUNCIL DECISION

of 14 February 2006

extending the period of application of

the measures in Decision 2002/148/EC concluding

consultations with Zimbabwe under Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement

(2006/114/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(3)

Having regard to the Treaty
establishing the European
Community, and in particular the second subparagraph of
Article 300(2) thereof,

The essential elements cited in Article 9 of the ACP-EC
Partnership Agreement continue to be violated by the
Government of Zimbabwe and the current conditions
in Zimbabwe do not ensure respect for human rights,
democratic principles and the rule of law.

(4)

The period of application of
therefore be extended,

the measures

should

Having regard to the Internal Agreement (1) on measures to be
taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of
the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23
June 2000 (2), and in particular Article 3 thereof,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

Article 1

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

(1)

(2)

By Decision 2002/148/EC (3), the consultations with the
Republic of Zimbabwe under Article 96(2)(c) of the ACP-
EC Partnership Agreement were concluded and appro-
specified in the Annex to that
priate measures, as
decision, were taken.

to

By Decision 2005/139/EC (4),
the application of
the
in Article 2 of Decision
referred
measures
2002/148/EC, which were extended until 20 February
2004 by Decision 2003/112/EC (5)
and until 20
February 2005 by Decision 2004/157/EC (6), was
extended until 20 February 2006.

The period of application of the measures referred to in Article
2 of Decision 2002/148/EC shall be extended until 20 February
2007. The measures shall be kept under constant review.

The letter in Annex to this Decision shall be addressed to the
President of Zimbabwe.

Article 2

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

Done at Brussels, 14 February 2006.

For the Council
The President

K.-H. GRASSER

(1) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 376.
(2) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.
(3) OJ L 50, 21.2.2002, p. 64.
(4) OJ L 48, 19.2.2005, p. 28.
(5) OJ L 46, 20.2.2003, p. 25.
(6) OJ L 50, 20.2.2004, p. 60.

18.2.2006

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 48/27

Brussels,

ANNEX

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE

The European Union attaches the utmost importance to the provisions of Article 9 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement.
As essential elements of the Partnership Agreement, respect for human rights, democratic institutions and the rule of law
are the basis of our relations.

By letter of 19 February 2002, the European Union informed you of its decision to conclude the consultations held under
Article 96 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement and to take certain ‘appropriate measures’ within the meaning of Article
96(2)(c) of that Agreement.

By letters of 19 February 2003, 19 February 2004 and 18 February 2005, the European Union informed you of its
decision not to revoke the application of the ‘appropriate measures’ and to extend the period of application until 20
February 2004, 20 February 2005 and 20 February 2006 respectively.

Twelve months later your country's Government, in the view of the European Union, has made no significant progress in
the five areas referred to in the Council Decision of 18 February 2002.

In the light of the above, the European Union does not consider that the appropriate measures can be revoked, and has
decided to extend their period of application until 20 February 2007. The European Union will closely follow devel-
opments in Zimbabwe and would once again like to emphasise that it is not penalising the Zimbabwean people and will
continue with its contribution to operations of a humanitarian nature and projects in direct support of the local
population,
in particular projects in social sectors, democratisation, respect for human rights and the rule of law,
which are not affected by these measures.

The European Union wishes to recall that the application of appropriate measures within the meaning of Article 96 of the
ACP-EC Partnership Agreement is no obstacle to political dialogue as defined in the provisions of Article 8 of that same
Agreement. With this in mind, the European Union wishes to underline the importance that it attaches to future
EC-Zimbabwe cooperation and wishes to express its readiness to engage, once the conditions are met,
in the post
ninth EDF programming and considers that this would be an opportunity for a dialogue between the two partners.

To this end, the European Union hopes that you and your Government will do everything in your power to restore
respect for the fundamental principles enshrined in the Partnership Agreement, and thereby enable the restoration of
cooperation as soon as conditions allow.

Yours faithfully,

For the Commission

A. PIEBALGS

For the Council

K.-H. GRASSER