Brussels, 17/07/2008 (Agence Europe) - The ambassadors of EU member states agreed, on Wednesday 16 July, to strengthen restrictive measures against personalities and entities with a connection to the Robert Mugabe regime. EU27 foreign ministers, who are meeting in Brussels on 22 July, are thus expected to decide to impose sanctions on those responsible for the campaign of violence which marked the elections of 27 June in Zimbabwe. The result of the vote is “not legitimate”, the EU points out in draft conclusions to be adopted during the External Relations Council and which provide for sanctions to be extended (visa ban and freeze on assets) to about 40 persons and five entities that do not yet appear on the list established by the common position of 19 February 2004. According to the draft conclusions, the Council will also decide to strengthen travel bans on those who are already on the list. It will call for rapid and tangible implementation of the African Union (AU) resolution adopted on 1 July this year, and which has not yet been followed up by any significant developments on the ground. Given the current status quo, the EU calls for active involvement by the AU in support of the SADC's efforts, and hopes to evoke this matter at the next summit with South Africa on 25 July. It also states it is ready to support “any credible mediation effort resulting in the establishment of a transitional government and the holding, as soon as possible, of free, multiparty and transparent elections”. If there are no positive changes “in the next few weeks”, the EU may take additional measures, the conclusions state. (A.B./transl.jl)