As announced by EUROPE (see EUROPE 11965) and as they had threatened in October 2017, the European foreign affairs ministers called on High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini on Monday 26 February to prepare targeted measures and to strengthen the embargo on weapons in connection with the "extremely serious" situation in Burma, especially in Rakhine state.
In its conclusions, the Council invites the High Representative to: - present proposals without delay on targeted restrictive measures against senior military officials of the armed forces; - to present another proposal aiming to prolong the current embargo on weapons and equipment used for the purposes of internal repression, and concrete options with a view to strengthening this embargo. Concrete cooperation on defence is also to be reduced to a strict minimum, with the sole aim of strengthening democratic principles, the respect of human rights and the rule of law.
The Council invites the Commission to step up its relations with Myanmar in the light of the arrangements in the Everything But Arms regulation, respect of which is a condition for the granting of trade preferences. The Council also looks forward to the new EU-Myanmar dialogue session on human rights, which could take place on 5 March.
The Council furthermore engages the Burmese government and security forces to ensure that security, the rule of law and the obligation to be accountable prevail in Rakhine, Kachin and Shan states. The government and security forces should also authorise the conduct of credible independent inquiries into the allegations of serious and systematic human rights violations, the EU ministers warn, saying that the perpetrators of crimes should be taken to justice without delay.
The conditions for the voluntary, safe and dignified return of displaced people to the places of origin should also be created. For a sustainable response to the crisis of the Rohingya Muslims, it is essential that the UNHCR play a major role as part of the process of repatriating refugees and that the government address the deep-rooted causes of this crisis, the Council warns. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)