Brussels, 12/03/2002 (Agence Europe) - The European Commission has presented a new draft regulation amending the sanctions scheme against the Al-Qaeda and Taliban networks, to take account of the change of power in Afghanistan. This new text will repeal and replace the current sanctions regulation. Transposing for Europe United Nations Security Council Resolution 1390 of 16 January, the regulation abolishes sanctions on Afghanistan itself, like the arms embargo and embargo on certain chemical products or ban on flights. It does, however, alter and strengthen the sanctions of people and entities linked to Ossama Bin Laden, the Al-Qaeda and Taliban networks. The freeze on assets will be more stringent, including all "economic resources" and not only capital and financial funds. The European Parliament could issue its opinion this week already, the Commission hopes, that would enable the Council to adopt the regulation in the coming weeks.