Brussels, 27/04/2010 (Agence Europe) - While, on Monday 26 April, the EU27 decided to extend the restrictive measures taken against the Burmese junta (EUROPE 10126), the European Commission presented a proposal the same day, aimed at amending the regulation that establishes these measures. The regulation (EC 194/2008) above all prohibits the purchase, import and transport to the EU of timber in the round and products derived from wood, charcoal and certain metals as well as precious and semi-precious stones from Burma/Myanmar. In its proposal, the Commission recommends it should be made clear that this prohibition should not apply to humanitarian aid projects or programmes, or to non-humanitarian development projects and programmes conducted in Burma/Myanmar, in support of: - human rights, democracy, good governance, conflict prevention and building the capacity of civil society; - health and education, poverty alleviation and in particular the provision of basic needs and livelihoods for the poorest and most vulnerable populations; - or environmental protection and, in particular, programmes addressing the problem of non-sustainable, excessive logging resulting in deforestation. (O.L./transl.jl)