RESTRICTIVE MEASURES AGAINST DEMOCRATIC
REPUBLIC OF CONGO (12256/06)
Letter from Rt Hon Ian McCartney MP, Minister
for Trade, Investment and Foreign Affairs, Department of Trade
and Industry/Foreign and Commonwealth Office to the Chairman
I am writing to let your Committee know of plans
to amend EU Common Position 2005/440/CFSP concerning restrictive
measures (sanctions) against the Democratic Republic of Congo
(DRC). This amendment would take account of recent United Nations
Security Council Resolutions (UNSCRs) which allow the imposition
of targeted sanctions on political and military leaders of armed
groups operating in the DRC who obstruct the demobilisation of
those groups, and on individuals responsible for the abuse and
recruitment of children in situations of armed conflict in the
DRC.
The UK already implements the relevant UNSCRs
by way of national legislation, but some other EU member states
rely on EU Common Positions and Regulations for their implementation.
It is important for the effectiveness of the targeted sanctions
(particularly the asset freeze) that all states have the necessary
legislation in place before the UN designates the individuals
to be targeted. Since there is a chance that the UN may designate
individuals for targeted sanctions pursuant to the relevant UNSCRs
in the coming month, it is desirable that the EU agree the amendment
to the Common Position no later than the meeting of the GAERC
on 14 September 2006.
This will unfortunately mean that there is not
enough time for your Committee to scrutinise the amendment to
the Common Position. In light of the need to support effective
EU implementation of UN sanctions on the DRC, I hope the Committee
will understand if I decide to agree to the amendment before scrutiny
has been completed.
4 September 2006
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