EU COUNCIL, update

 

Press material Thursday 30 June 2022

● Council of the EU   30/06/2022 17:31 | Press release | Sanctions: Council requests European Parliament consent to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of EU crimes   The Council today requested the European Parliament’s consent on a decision to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of ‘EU crimes’ included in the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU. The EU has adopted a number of restrictive measures in the context of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine and it is essential that these measures are fully implemented. Currently member states have very different definitions of what constitutes a violation of restrictive measures and what penalties should be applied in the event of violation. This could lead to different degrees of enforcement of sanctions and a risk of these measures being circumvented, potentially allowing sanctioned persons to continue accessing their assets and supporting regimes targeted by EU measures. A unanimous decision to add the violation of restrictive measures to the list of ‘EU crimes’ will allow, as a second step, the adoption of a directive containing minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and penalties for the violation of EU restrictive measures. This will ensure a similar degree of sanctions enforcement throughout the EU and will dissuade attempts to circumvent or violate EU measures. Next steps The draft text will now be sent to the European Parliament for its consent. Once the Parliament has given its consent and internal national procedures have been finalised, the decision can be formally adopted unanimously by the Council. Background Under article 83(1) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the EU, the Parliament and the Council may establish minimum rules concerning the definition of criminal offences and sanctions in areas of particularly serious crime with a cross-border dimension. The areas of crime currently listed in this article are terrorism, trafficking in human beings and sexual exploitation of women and children, illicit drug trafficking, illicit arms trafficking, money laundering, corruption, counterfeiting of means of payment, computer crime and organised crime. On 25 May 2022, the European Commission presented a proposal for a decision to extend the list of these areas of crime to include the violation of restrictive measures adopted by the EU.

20 years ago, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered into force. The adoption of the Rome Statute has been a major step f… Press material Thursday 30 June 2022   ● Council of the EU   30/06/2022 16:09 | Press release | Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court: Declaration by the High Representative on behalf of the EU to mark the 20th anniversary of its entry into force   20 years ago, the Rome Statute of the International Criminal Court (ICC) entered into force. The adoption of the Rome Statute has been a major step forward in the evolution of the international legal order and a breakthrough in the global fight against impunity. The ICC is the first permanent criminal judicial institution of universal character established to prosecute the perpetrators of the most serious crimes of concern to the international community as a whole, as foreseen in article 5 of the Rome Statute. We call on all States that have not yet done so to ratify or accede to the Rome Statute in order to end impunity for the perpetrators of the most serious international crimes. The EU and its Member States will continue to promote the universal ratification of the Rome Statute and its effective domestic implementation. We will continue to provide political and financial support to the Court, to allow it to carry out effectively its mandate also on behalf of victims. Since its creation, the International Criminal Court has come a long way: from the first referrals by States Parties in 2004 to the first ICC judgment in 2009 and the first decision on reparations to victims in 2012. Its landmark decisions have contributed to the fight against impunity and the development of international criminal jurisprudence, for example on sexual and gender-based crimes, the recruitment and use of children in armed conflicts and the destruction of cultural property. We highlight the Court’s important role for delivering justice to victims of unimaginable atrocities, giving them a voice by enabling them to participate in its proceedings, providing assistance and awarding reparations. The ICC constantly strives to improve and evolve. The ongoing process of review of the International Criminal Court and the Rome Statute system is an opportunity to make the Court more efficient and effective. We will continue to support the consideration of the recommendations of the Independent Expert Review, while preserving the integrity of the Rome Statute and respecting the prosecutorial and judicial independence of the Court. We recall that the ICC is a court of last resort, complementary to national jurisdictions. States carry the primary responsibility to investigate, prosecute and bring perpetrators of the most serious international crimes to justice. States Parties have an obligation to cooperate with the Court in accordance with the Rome Statute. To increase its efficiency and effectiveness, the ICC depends also on voluntary cooperation in areas such as the relocation of witnesses, enforcement of sentences, and interim and final release of detained persons. We are committed to enhancing our efforts on cooperation, and to exchange information on best national practices. The ICC has accomplished substantial judicial work and has considerably accelerated the pace of its activity with multiple ongoing investigations in almost all regions of the world. The heavy workload of the Court also requires increased and sustainable resources. We call on States Parties to pay their financial contributions in full and on time. On this anniversary, we reconfirm our unwavering support for the Court, as an independent and impartial judicial institution. We renew our commitment to our obligations under the Rome Statute and will uphold, defend and promote its principles and values. The Council today adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility worth €40 million for the benefit of the Armed Forces of the Republ… Press material Thursday 30 June 2022   ● Council of the EU   30/06/2022 16:07 | Press release | European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measure in support of the Moldovan Armed Forces   The Council today adopted an assistance measure under the European Peace Facility worth €40 million for the benefit of the Armed Forces of the Republic of Moldova. The assistance measure will strengthen the capacities of the Moldovan Armed Forces’ logistics, mobility, command and control, cyber-defence, unmanned aerial reconnaissance and tactical communications units by providing relevant non-lethal equipment, supplies and services, including equipment-related training. This assistance measure will complement the €7 million assistance measure adopted in December 2021 which strengthens the capacities of the Military Medical Service and the Engineering Battalion of the Armed Forces. The latest assistance measure is the proof of the EU's commitment to strengthen the capacities of the Republic of Moldova with the aim of enhancing its national security, stability and resilience. Background The European Peace Facility was established in March 2021 to finance all Common Foreign and Security Policy (CFSP) actions in the areas of military and defence, with the aim of preventing conflict, preserving peace and strengthening international security and stability. In particular, the European Peace Facility allows the EU to finance actions designed to strengthen the capacities of non EU countries and regional and international organisations relating to military and defence matters. European Peace Facility: Council adopts assistance measures for Georgia, the Republic of Moldova, Ukraine and the Republic of Mali, press release 2 December 2021 The European Peace Facility, factsheet EEAS website European Peace Facility (background information) EU cooperation on security and defence (background information)