On Monday 13 December the EU Council adopted the legal framework for imposing targeted sanctions on those who have obstructed Mali’s transition since the military coup of 24 May.
This legal framework will allow the EU to impose sanctions autonomously, whereas until now it has only been able to transpose sanctions decided by the United Nations into its legislation (see EUROPE 12851/18, 12832/3).
The EU sanctions will consist of a travel ban to the EU for identified individuals and an asset freeze for both individuals and entities. In addition, individuals and entities from the EU will be prohibited from making funds available to listed persons, either directly or indirectly.
For the time being, the list does not contain any names, in line with the EU’s progressive approach.
The EU reiterates that it remains at the side of the people of the Sahel and reaffirms its full commitment to the strict respect of the rule of law, human rights and international humanitarian law in Mali.
The EU sanctions framework supports the sanctions decided on 7 November by the Economic Community of West African States. On Sunday, the ECOWAS summit again demanded elections in February to bring civilians back to power, failing which additional sanctions will be adopted in January. (Original version in French by Aminata Niang)