(1)

On 10 March 2014, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 224/2014 (2) in order to give effect to certain measures provided for in Decision 2013/798/CFSP.

(2)

On 28 July 2020, the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) adopted Resolution 2536 (2020). That Resolution extends the exemptions to the arms embargo.

(3)

On 21 September 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/1312 (3), which amends Decision 2013/798/CFSP in accordance with Resolution 2536 (2020).

(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 together with technical adjustments in light of previous UNSC Resolutions, in particular with a view to ensuring their uniform application by economic operators in all Member States.

(5)

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

‘(e)

related to weapons with a calibre of 14,5 mm or less and ammunition and components specially designed for such weapons, and to unarmed ground military vehicles and ground military vehicles mounted with weapons with a calibre of 14,5 mm or less, and their spare parts, and to rocket-propelled grenades, and ammunition specially designed for such weapons, to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions, where such weapons, ammunition, components and vehicles are intended solely for support of, or use in, the CAR process of SSR, provided that the provision of such assistance or services has been notified at least 20 days in advance to the Sanctions Committee;

(f)

related to arms and other related lethal equipment that are not listed in point (e) of Article 3, to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions, where such arms and equipment are intended solely for support of, or use in, the CAR process of SSR, as approved in advance by the Sanctions Committee.’.

(1)

On 23 December 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/798/CFSP (1), concerning restrictive measures against the Central African Republic.

(2)

On 28 July 2020, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2536 (2020), which extends the exemptions to the arms embargo.

(3)

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

(4)

Decision 2013/798/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

‘(g)

the sale, supply, transfer or export of weapons with a calibre of 14,5 mm or less and ammunition and components specially designed for such weapons, and of unarmed ground military vehicles and ground military vehicles mounted with weapons with a calibre of 14,5 mm or less, and their spare parts, and of rocket-propelled grenades, and ammunition specially designed for such weapons, and the provision of related assistance, to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions, where such weapons, ammunition, components and vehicles are intended solely for support of, or use in, the CAR process of SSR, as notified in advance to the Committee;

(h)

the sale, supply or export of arms and other related lethal equipment that are not listed in point (g) of Article 2(1), and the provision of related assistance, to the CAR security forces, including state civilian law enforcement institutions, where such arms and equipment are intended solely for support of, or use in, the CAR process of SSR, as approved in advance by the Committee; or’.

(1)

On 2 April 2020, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2020/489 (1), appointing Mr Miroslav LAJČÁK as European Union Special Representative for the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue and other Western Balkan regional issues (the 'EUSR'). The EUSR's mandate is to expire on 31 March 2021.

(2)

Following the relaunch of the Belgrade-Pristina Dialogue in July 2020, additional staff should be recruited to the EUSR's team. The financial reference amount should therefore be adapted accordingly,