Brussels, 23/07/2012 (Agence Europe) - Encouraged by progress made by Zimbabwe on the road to democracy, the EU on Monday 23 July agreed to lift the restrictive measures on development cooperation with this country, which had been extended by six months in February of this year. The lifting of the CFSP sanctions targeted at individuals and economic entities in Zimbabwe will, however, depend on additional progress in the implementation of the roadmap laid down by the SADC, which should lead to free and democratic elections next year.
The Council of the EU included this decision without debate in unanimous conclusions welcoming the implementation of the global political agreement (GPA) and the constructive dialogue which has been established with all parties to the national unity government, in the framework of the process of EU re-engagement.
"The measures taken by the government to improve the freedom and prosperity of the Zimbabwean people justify the immediate suspension of all measures so far applied under article 96 of the Cotonou agreement. This will allow the EU to work directly with the national unity government on new development programmes to benefit the people of Zimbabwe”, the Council stresses.
It was in February of this year that the EU decided in favour of a conditional and gradual lifting of sanctions on Zimbabwe. The decisive factor will be whether the constitutional referendum to be held in Zimbabwe this September takes place peacefully and credibly. This is a key stage in preparations for democratic elections, which themselves would justify the suspension of most of the other sanctions (PEC sanctions), the Council states. (AN/transl.fl)