The Council of the EU adopted on Friday 30 July a framework of sanctions that allows for the imposition of restrictive measures against persons and entities that have undermined democracy or the Rule of law in Lebanon.
On 12 July, Foreign Ministers gave their political agreement to the creation of such a sanctions regime, hoping for its adoption before the end of July (see EUROPE 12760/12). The framework was adopted following a written procedure launched on Thursday 29 July.
Specifically, according to an EU Council communiqué, this framework allows for measures to be taken against persons and entities that obstruct or undermine the democratic political process by persistently hampering the formation of a government or by obstructing or seriously undermining the holding of elections.
Similarly, obstructing or undermining the implementation of plans approved by Lebanese authorities and supported by relevant international actors, including the EU, to improve accountability and good governance in the public sector or the implementation of critical economic reforms, including in the banking and financial sectors and including the adoption of transparent and non-discriminatory legislation on the export of capital, is grounds for sanctions.
Finally, any person or entity committing serious financial misconduct involving public funds, to the extent that the acts concerned are covered by the United Nations Convention against Corruption and Unauthorised Export of Capital, could be subject to restrictive measures.
Sanctions consist of a travel ban to the EU, an asset freeze for persons and an asset freeze for entities. EU persons and entities are also prohibited from making funds available to sanctioned persons and entities.
There are currently no inscriptions in this framework.
At the time of writing, the legal acts related to this decision had not yet been made public. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)