12.2.2004 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 40/1
COUNCIL REGULATION (EC) No 234/2004
of 10 February 2004
concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Liberia and repealing Regulation (EC) No 1030/2003
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 2004/137/CFSP of 10 February 2004 concerning restrictive measures against Liberia and repealing Common Position 2001/357/CFSP (1),
Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,
Whereas:
(1) In its Resolution 1521 (2003) of 22 December 2003, the UN Security Council, acting under Chapter VII of the Charter of the United Nations, and noting the changed circumstances in Liberia, in particular the departure of former President Charles Taylor and the formation of the National Transitional Government of Liberia, decided to modify certain of the restrictive measures imposed against Liberia by United Nations Security Council Resolutions 1343 (2001) of 7 March 2001 and 1478 (2003) of 6 May 2003.
(2) Common Position 2004/137/CFSP provides for the implementation of the measures set out in UN Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003), including a ban on technical assistance related to military activities and imports of rough diamonds from and of round logs and timber products originating in Liberia.
(3) Common Position 2004/137/CFSP also provides for a ban on services related to military activities, and on financial assistance related to military activities, which is not cited in UN Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003).
(4) Some of the measures provided for by Resolutions 1343 (2001) and 1478 (2003) were implemented by Council Regulation (EC) No 1030/2003 of 16 June 2003 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Liberia (2). The amendments to those measures fall within the scope of the Treaty and, therefore, in order to avoid any distortion of competition, Community legislation is necessary to implement the relevant decisions of the Security Council as far as 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.
(5) For the sake of clarity, a single text containing all the relevant provisions as amended should be adopted, replacing Regulation (EC) No 1030/2003, which should be repealed.
(6) In order to ensure that the measures provided for in this Regulation are effective, this Regulation should enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union,
For the purposes of this Regulation, the following definition shall apply:
‘technical assistance’ means any technical support related to repairs, development, manufacture, assembly, testing, maintenance, or any other technical service, and may take forms such as instruction, advice, training, transmission of working knowledge or skills or consulting services. Technical assistance includes verbal forms of assistance.
It shall be prohibited:
(a) to grant, sell, supply or transfer technical assistance related to military activities and to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, directly or indirectly to any person, entity or body in, or for use in, Liberia;
(b) to provide financing or financial assistance related to military activities, including in particular grants, loans and export credit insurance, for any sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related materiel, directly or indirectly to any person, entity or body in, or for use in, Liberia;
(c) to participate, knowingly and intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is, directly or indirectly, to promote the transactions referred to in paragraphs (a) and (b).
1.   By way of derogation from Article 2, the competent authority, as listed in Annex I, of the Member State where the service provider is established, may authorise the provision of:
(a) technical assistance, financing and financial assistance related to arms and related materiel, where such assistance or services are intended solely for support of and use by the United Nations Mission in Liberia, or of
(b) financing and financial assistance related to:
(i) arms and related materiel intended solely for support of and use in an international training and reform programme for the Liberian armed forces and police, or to
(ii) non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use.
2.   No authorisations shall be granted for activities that have already taken place.
1.   Where such activities have been approved in advance by the Committee established by paragraph 21 of UN Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003), and by way of derogation from Article 2 of this Regulation, the competent authority, as listed in Annex I, of the Member State where the service provider is established, may authorise the provision of technical assistance related to:
(a) arms and related materiel intended solely for support of and use in an international training and reform programme for the Liberian armed forces and police, or to
(b) non-lethal military equipment intended solely for humanitarian or protective use,
Such approval shall be obtained through the competent authority, as listed in Annex I, of the Member State where the service provider is established.
2.   No authorisations shall be granted for activities that have already taken place.
Article 2 shall not apply to protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Liberia by United Nations personnel, personnel of the European Union, the Community or its Member States, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel, for their personal use only.
1.   The direct or indirect import into the Community of all rough diamonds from Liberia, as defined in Annex II, whether originating there or not, shall be prohibited.
2.   The import into the Community of all round logs and timber products originating in Liberia, as defined in Annex III, shall be prohibited.
3.   The participation, knowingly and intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is, directly or indirectly, to promote the transactions referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, shall also be prohibited.
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 21 of UN Security Council Resolution 1521 (2003) for the purposes of effective implementation of this Regulation.
Member States shall immediately inform each other and the Commission of the measures taken under this Regulation and shall supply each other with any other 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.
The Commission shall be empowered to:
(a) amend Annex I on the basis of information supplied by Member States;
(b) amend Annexes II and III in order to bring them into line with changes that may be made to the Combined Nomenclature.
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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 13 February 2004.
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1.   The Member States shall lay down the rules on sanctions applicable to infringements of the provisions of this Regulation and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that they are implemented. The sanctions provided for must be effective, proportionate and dissuasive.
2.   The Member States shall notify these rules to the Commission without delay after the entry into force of the Regulation and shall notify it of any subsequent amendment.
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This Regulation shall apply:
(a) within the territory of the Community, including its airspace;
(b) on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State;
(c) to any person elsewhere who is a national of a Member State;
(d) to any legal person, group or entity which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State;
(e) to any legal person, group or entity doing business within the Community.
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Regulation (EC) No 1030/2003 is hereby repealed.
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This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.