2007/127/EC: Council Decision of 19 February 2007 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: 2007-02-19
Institutions: Council of the European Union
Subjects: Cotonou Agreement, EU relations, Zimbabwe, economic sanctions, human rights, political situation, suspension of aid

22.2.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 53/23

(Acts adopted under the EC Treaty/Euratom Treaty whose publication is not obligatory)

II

DECISIONS

COUNCIL

COUNCIL DECISION

of 19 February 2007

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

(2007/127/EC)

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

(2)

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

Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement signed in
Cotonou on 23 June 2000 (1) and revised in Luxembourg on
25 August 2005 (2),

the governments of

Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the represen-
tatives of
the Member States, meeting
within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures
to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Part-
nership Agreement (3) and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

to

2004

referred

application of

the
By Decision 2006/114/EC the
measures
in Article 2 of Decision
2002/148/EC, which had been extended until 20
February
Decision
2003/112/EC (5), until 20 February 2005 by Article 1
of Decision 2004/157/EC (6) and until 20 February
2006 by Article 1 of Decision 2005/139/EC (7), were
extended for a further period of 12 months until 20
February 2007.

Article

by

of

1

(3)

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

Whereas:

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS:

(1)

By Decision 2002/148/EC (4), the consultations with the
Republic of Zimbabwe under Article 96(2)(c) of the ACP-
EC Partnership Agreement were concluded and appro-
priate measures, as
specified in the Annex to that
Decision, were taken.

(1) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 3.
(2) OJ L 209, 11.08.2005, p. 25.
(3) OJ L 317, 15.12.2000, p. 376. Internal Agreement as last amended
by Internal Agreement of 10 April 2006 (OJ L 247, 9.9.2006,
p. 48).

(4) OJ L 50, 21.2.2002, p. 64. Decision as last amended by Decision

2006/114/EC (OJ L 48, 18.2.2006, p. 26).

Article 1

The period of application of the measures referred to in Article
2 of Decision 2002/148/EC shall be extended until 20 February
2008. The measures shall be kept under constant review.

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

(5) OJ L 46, 20.2.2003, p. 25.
(6) OJ L 50, 20.2.2004, p. 60.
(7) OJ L 48, 19.2.2005, p. 28.

L 53/24

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

22.2.2007

This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its adoption.

Article 2

It shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union.

Done at Brussels, 19 February 2007.

For the Council
The President

M. GLOS

22.2.2007

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

L 53/25

ANNEX

LETTER TO THE PRESIDENT OF ZIMBABWE

Brussels, 21 February 2007

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, 18 February 2005 and 15 February 2006, the European Union
informed you of its decisions not to revoke the application of the ‘appropriate measures’ and to extend the period of
application until 20 February 2004, 20 February 2005, 20 February 2006 and 20 February 2007 respectively.

Twelve months later, the European Union considers that no significant progress has been made 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 it has
decided to extend their period of application until 20 February 2008.

The European Union would once again emphasise that it is not penalising the Zimbabwean people and it will continue its
in particular
contribution to operations of a humanitarian nature and projects in direct support of the population,
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 once again the importance that it attaches to future
EC-Zimbabwe cooperation. The European Union wishes to confirm its willingness to continue to make use of the
opportunity provided by the ongoing 10th EDF programming exercise to carry on the dialogue and, as soon as
conditions allow, to make progress towards a situation where the resumption of full cooperation becomes possible.

Yours faithfully,

For the Commission

J.M. BARROSO

For the Council

M. GLOS