EXPLANATORY MEMORANDUM

On 10 March 2014, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic.

On 27 July 2023, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2693 (2023). That Resolution establishes that the arms embargo measures and the related notification requirements shall no longer apply to the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel, and the provision of assistance, advice and training to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions.

The Council is about to adopt a decision amending Decision 2013/798/CFSP in order to reflect these provisions.

Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement these measures.

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission propose to amend Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 accordingly.

2023/0374 (NLE)

Joint Proposal for a

COUNCIL REGULATION

amending 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 Decision (CFSP) [2023/…] 1 , amending Council Decision 2013/798/CFSP of 23 December 2013 concerning restrictive measures against the Central African Republic 2 ,

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

Whereas:

(1)On 10 March 2014, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Central African Republic 3 (‘CAR’), in order to give effect to certain measures provided for in Decision 2013/798/CFSP.

(2)On 27 July 2023, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2693 (2023). That Resolution establishes that the arms embargo measures and the related notification requirements shall no longer apply to the supply, sale or transfer of arms and related materiel, and the provision of assistance, advice and training to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions.

(3)On […] October 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) [2023/…], which amends Decision 2013/798/CFSP in accordance with Resolution 2693 (2023).

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

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

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

In Regulation (EU) No 224/2014, Article 3, letter (e) is replaced by the following:

‘(e) related to supplies of arms and related materiel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment, and spare parts for the aforementioned, to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions.’

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,

For the Council

The President