EU Restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya

KEY POINTS

The decision and the regulation, which have been amended numerous times, include a range of bans and restrictions including:

• a ban on the sale, supply, export or transfer of equipment, such as firearms, which might be used for internal repression for use in Libya.
  • This includes a ban on providing technical assistance in the use such equipment;
• inspection by EU countries of all vessels and aircraft bound to or from Libya suspected of carrying banned items;
• prior authorisation for the sale, supply, export or transfer of goods,such as inflatable vessels or motor boats, which might be used for smuggling migrants or for human trafficking, for use in Libya;
• the freezing of funds and economic resources of persons, companies or bodies listed by the UN Security Council or UN Sanctions Committee in respect of Libya as well as those not on those lists, but who fulfil certain criteria including being:
  • involved in or complicit in serious human rights abuses against persons in Libya;
  • identified as being involved or associated in the former regime of Muammar Qadhafi;
  • engaged or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, stability or security of Libya or obstruct or undermine Libya’s political transition;
• refusal of admission into EU territory of those subject to UN travel bans in respect of Libya as well as those fulfilling certain criteria such as those mentioned above.

Derogations

The regulation and decision both contain a number of derogations from these bans and restrictions, these include:

• the release of certain frozen assets for legitimate purposes;
• the sale, supply, export or transfer of certain protective equipment such as flak jackets and military helmets under specific circumstances;
• travel on humanitarian grounds.