EUROPEAN COMMISSION

Brussels, 6.3.2015

JOIN(2015) 7 final

2015/0064(NLE)

Joint Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Council Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic

EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

(1)On 23 December 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/798/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against the Central African Republic providing for arms embargo, in accordance with the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2127 (2013) of 5 December 2013.

(2)On 22 January 2015 the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2196 (2015) clarifying the scope of the arms embargo and amending the criteria for the asset freeze. The Council is preparing a decision amending Decision 2013/798/CFSP to give effect to UNSCR 2196 (2015).

(3)The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the Commission should therefore make a new proposal for a Regulation concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic.

2015/0064 (NLE)

Joint Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending Council Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2013/798/CFSP of 23 December 2013 concerning restrictive measures in against the Central African Republic 1 ,

Having regard to the joint proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and of the European Commission,

Whereas:

(1)Council Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 2 gives effect to certain measures provided for in Decision 2013/798/CFSP.

(2)The United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2127 (2013) of 5 December 2013, UNSCR 2134 (2014) of 28 January 2014, and Council Decision 2013/798/CFSP, provide for an arms embargo against the Central African Republic and the freezing of funds and economic resources of certain persons engaging in or providing support for acts that undermine the peace, stability or security of the Central African Republic.

(3)On 22 January 2015 the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2196 (2015) extending the scope of the arms embargo and the asset freeze. In Council Decision 2015/…/CFSP the Council decided to extend the scope of the criteria accordingly.

(4)These measures fall within the scope of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and, therefore, notably with a view to ensuring their uniform application by economic operators in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement them.

(5)Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 should therefore be amended,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Article 5(3) of Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 is amended as follows:

(1) point (e) is replaced by the following:

“(e)    providing support for armed groups or criminal networks through the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources, including diamonds, gold and wildlife, and wildlife products, in or from the Central African Republic;” 

(2) point (h) is replaced by the following:

“(h)    being leaders of an entity designated by the Sanctions Committee, or having provided support to, or having acted for or on behalf of or at the direction of, a person or entity designated by the Sanctions Committee;”

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels,

(1) OJ L 352, 24.12.2013, p. 51.

(2) Council Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 of 10 March 2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic (OJ L 70, 11.3.2014, p. 1).