On Monday 14 October, the Council of the European Union adopted a regulatory framework for imposing targeted sanctions on persons and entities close to the Daniel Ortega regime, responsible for human rights violations and repression of civil society and political opposition in Nicaragua (see EUROPE 12335/4).
The sanctions consist of a ban on entry into the EU, an asset freeze for individuals and an asset freeze for entities. In addition, EU persons and entities are prohibited from making funds available to listed persons and entities.
In conclusions adopted on the same day, European foreign ministers consider that, since their previous conclusions, adopted in January 2019 (see EUROPE 12176/7), the human rights situation in the country has remained “very worrying”. In particular, they point out that “no follow-up has been given to the report of the group of independent experts on human rights violations” committed since April 2018. And “positive measures, such as the release of many political prisoners”, have not been followed by a restoration of civil and political rights, they note, deploring a “persistent refusal to resume dialogue with the opposition”.
The EU calls for tangible progress in three main areas to create the conditions for an exit from the political crisis in Nicaragua: - the full implementation of the March 2019 agreements to strengthen civil and political rights, such as the release of the last political prisoners; - the return of international human rights organizations (OHCHR and IACHR); - an agreement on electoral and institutional reforms between the government and the opposition, including the Civic Alliance, aimed at ensuring fair and transparent elections. (Original version in French by Mathieu Bion)