| 16/12/2024 11:29 | Press release | | | | | Today, the Council approved conclusions aimed at enhancing efforts to address terrorism and violent extremism. Together with the Council conclusions on 'future priorities for strengthening the joint counterterrorism efforts of the EU and its member states' approved last week, today’s conclusions prove the EU’s resolve to cooperate with partner countries and to protect EU citizens. The conclusions highlight how the terrorist and violent extremist threat has become increasingly diverse and fragmented. The Council notes with great concern that Da’esh Khorasan Province (ISKP) ability to inspire and carry out external operations, also in Europe, is growing. The Council underlines the deteriorating security situation in Africa and how the ongoing crisis in the Middle East is driving radicalisation worldwide. The Council confirmed EU’s unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in Iraq and Syria. In the face of this evolving threat, the Council emphasises that reinforcing external-internal connections is key. Terrorism and violent extremism must be addressed through a coherent approach that integrates the EU’s common foreign and security policy and actions in the area of justice and home affairs. The Council reaffirms that the only sustainable response to terrorism and violent extremism is one based on democracy, the rule of law, transparency, accountability and gender-responsiveness. The Council conclusions underline the need to continue investing in counterterrorism cooperation between the EU and third countries through dialogues and capacity-building projects. The conclusions further underline the need to harness the full potential of the EU counterterrorism/security experts’ network, notably to support EU counterterrorism policy development and action. To further increase the effectiveness and coordination of EU counterterrorism efforts, the Council calls for Team Europe initiatives that bring together EU and member state expertise and resources. |
| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 11:15 | Press release | | | | | Today, the Council approved conclusions on promoting geothermal energy, which is energy generated from the natural heat of the earth’s interior. This set of conclusions highlights the potential of geothermal energy as a local renewable energy source. Geothermal energy can be used for affordable and secure heating and cooling, and it can provide a stable supply of electricity. Therefore, it can decarbonise the energy consumption of buildings and make industries more competitive and sustainable. The Council calls for a faster deployment of geothermal energy by proposing or adapting measures for its promotion, including easier access to finance to address high upfront investment costs, as well as enhancing the workforce in the geothermal sector and strengthening cooperation in research on geothermal energy. “Geothermal energy is a long-lasting and always available renewable source, since it does not depend on weather events and can provide around-the-clock electricity generation and heat production. Today’s conclusions aim to boost this sustainable energy source, which can help us ensure a smooth transition to a carbon-free Europe, strengthen our competitiveness, and secure our energy sovereignty.” | | — Csaba Lantos, Hungarian Minister for Energy |
Faster permits and easier access to financeIn its conclusions, the Council calls on the Commission to draw up a comprehensive strategy on the decarbonisation of heating and cooling. This strategy should be accompanied by a European geothermal action plan with concrete measures to accelerate the deployment of geothermal energy. The Council calls on the member states to streamline their rules to make geothermal energy easier to use, and also issue permits faster. One of the proposed actions for member states is facilitating projects which reconvert underground fossil facilities in order to use them for geothermal energy. In line with the just transition objectives, dedicated retraining programmes could be set up to develop a skilled workforce for the emerging geothermal industry. When it comes to finance, the Council calls on the member states to ease access to financial schemes and elaborate incentives in order to help industries face the high upfront costs and address the risks related to drilling and exploration, but also to promote the construction related to geothermal infrastructure, like district heating networks. The conclusions propose measures to increase the capacity of European industries in drilling, construction and equipment manufacturing. They also foresee a European Geothermal Alliance, to be set up by the Commission, that would bring together policymakers, industry and investors to spot bottlenecks and actions for a greater deployment of geothermal energy.
BackgroundIn April 2024, the European Council called for a genuine energy union, to be achieved by securing a supply of abundant, affordable and clean energy, that serves the dual objective of pursuing European energy sovereignty and climate neutrality. The EU’s net-zero industry act (adopted on 13 June 2024) aims to ensure the EU’s access to a secure and sustainable supply of net-zero technologies, including geothermal energy, by enhancing their manufacturing capacity and supply chain. As the energy source is continuous, geothermal power plants can operate at their maximum capacity throughout the day and year. Moreover, with an incentivising framework, geothermal energy could become an important dispatchable source of low-emissions electricity that could contribute to the flexibility and resilience of the electricity network. Despite the benefits of geothermal energy and its role in the decarbonisation of the energy sector as a mature net-zero technology, the potential of geothermal energy remains untapped. Overall, geothermal energy made up only 2.8 % of renewable energy sources used for the production of primary energy in the EU in 2021. Today, geothermal meets less than 1 % of global energy demand. Further actions are needed to fully explore and utilise its potential. This set of conclusions builds on the discussions on geothermal energy during the informal Energy Council held by the Hungarian presidency in July 2024. During the discussions, ministers agreed that geothermal energy is an important alternative and sustainable renewable energy source for both heating and electricity generation. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 11:02 | Press release | | | | | The Council today decided to prolong the mandate of the EU Naval Force Operation ATALANTA and of the EU's military training mission in Somalia (EUTM Somalia) until 28 February 2027, adding to its decision of 5 December to prolong the mandate of the EU's civilian capacity-building mission (EUCAP Somalia) until the same date. These decisions were taken following the holistic strategic review of the Common Security and Defence Policy (CSDP) engagement in Somalia and the Horn of Africa, with the aim to strengthen the EU’s response to an evolving security context and to enhance its role as a maritime security provider. At the same time, the Council updated the mandate of Operation ATALANTA to enhance maritime security off the coast of Somalia, in the Gulf of Aden, the West Indian Ocean and parts of the Red Sea, and better support building a wider regional maritime security architecture. With the new mandate, the Operation will continue to fight piracy and reduce illicit trafficking at sea. Synergies with the maritime Operation ASPIDES, currently protecting merchant shipping in the Red Sea, will be enhanced. In parallel, the Maritime Security Center (MSC) Horn of Africa, supporting both ATALANTA and ASPIDES, is being rebranded as MSC Indian Ocean and its role is being reinforced. In Somalia, the EU’s CSDP action was widened to support the build-up of Somali Security Forces and institutions with the view to take over responsibility for its own security in the future, in line with the Joint EU-Somalia Roadmap. With the renewed mandates, EUCAP Somalia and EUTM Somalia will support the build-up of capable, sustainable, and accountable Somali security institutions through strategic advice, mentoring and training, accompanied by EU-funded equipment support through the European Peace Facility. To strengthen the regional approach, the missions and the operation will support capacity-building efforts of the regional and, in particular, Djibouti maritime security forces within their means and capabilities. In order to uphold the EU’s core values, all activities will pay particular attention to international humanitarian law, human rights, preventing gender-based violence, protecting children in armed conflicts, and promoting the agenda of women, peace and security and climate, security and defence. BackgroundOperation ATALANTASince its establishment in late 2008 in response to the rising levels of piracy in the Western Indian Ocean, Operation ATALANTA has significantly contributed to the suppression of piracy, as well as the protection of the vessels of the World Food Programme (WFP), African Union Transition Mission in Somalia (ATMIS) and other international vulnerable shipping. The Operation deters, prevents and when needed represses acts of piracy thus reducing the threat to the international maritime community. Additionally, the Operation has monitored the fishing activities off the coast of Somalia (outside Somali territorial sea) and supported other EU CSDP missions and international organisations working to strengthen maritime security and capacities in the region. EUCAP SomaliaLaunched in July 2012 as EUCAP Nestor, EUCAP Somalia currently contributes to advising, training and equipping the Federal Somali Police Force to contribute to the gradual establishment of the Rule of Law in Somalia. In addition, EUCAP Somalia assists Somalia in strengthening its maritime security capacity in order to enable it to enforce maritime law more effectively. EUCAP Somalia cooperates with EUTM Somalia to contribute to the development of the Somali Navy and Coast Guard, in relation to civilian coastguard functions. EUTM SomaliaEUTM Somalia implements its mandate utilizing a three-pillar approach that focuses on training, mentoring and the provision of strategic advice to the Somali National Armed Forces. Throughout the years, the EU training mission has refocused its tasks, and sets out to support the internal development of specialised functions such as leadership, command & control, counter-IED, medical care, and logistics. EUTM Somalia contributes to an intensive training programme at the General Daghabadan Training Center near Mogadishu. In close cooperation with the European Peace Facility, EUTM Somalia provides advice on Somali National Armed Forces needs and training courses for new equipment. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 10:53 | Press release | | | | | The Council adopted today a 15th package of economic and individual restrictive measures with the objective of further limiting Russia’s ability to wage its illegal, unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression against Ukraine. These measures are designed to address the circumvention of EU sanctions through targeting of Putin’s shadow fleet and weaken Russia’s military and industrial complex. “Russia continues its brutal attack against Ukraine and Ukrainian people. This package of sanctions is part of our response to weaken Russia’s war machine and those who are enabling this war, also including Chinese companies. It shows the unity of EU member states in our continued support to Ukraine. Our immediate priority is to put Ukraine in the strongest possible position. We will stand by the Ukrainian people on all fronts: humanitarian, economic, political, diplomatic and military. There can be no doubt that Ukraine will win.” | | — Kaja Kallas, High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy |
Today’s package includes decisions on: Individual listingsThe Council agreed on a significant package of 84 listings, which consists of 54 persons and 30 entities responsible for actions undermining or threatening the territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence of Ukraine. As regards individuals, the EU is sanctioning the military unit responsible for the striking of the Okhmadyt children hospital in Kyiv, senior managers in leading companies in the energy sector, individuals responsible for children deportation, propaganda and circumvention, as well as two senior DPRK officials. As to entities, the EU targeted primarily Russian defence companies and shipping companies responsible for the transportation of crude oil and oil products by the sea, providing important revenues to the Russian government. It also listed a chemical plant, a civil Russian airline which is an important provider of logistical support to the Russian military. For the first time, it imposes fully-fledged sanctions (travel ban, asset freeze, prohibition to make economic resources available) on various Chinese actors supplying drone components and microelectronic components in support of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine. CircumventionThe Council is adding further vessels to the list of those subject to a port access ban and ban on provision of a broad range of services related to maritime transport. This measure is intended to target non-EU tankers that are part of Putin’s shadow fleet circumventing the oil price cap mechanism or support the energy sector of Russia, or vessels that are responsible for transporting military equipment for Russia or involved in the transport of stolen Ukrainian grain. 52 vessels originating from third countries were targeted today on these grounds, bringing the total of designated vessels to 79. TradeThe Council also added 32 new entities to the list of those directly supporting Russia’s military and industrial complex in its war of aggression against Ukraine. They will be subject to tighter export restrictions concerning dual use goods and technologies, as well as goods and technology which might contribute to the technological enhancement of Russia’s defence and security sector. Some of these entities are located in third countries (China, India, Iran, Serbia and the United Arab Emirates) and have been involved in the circumvention of trade restrictions or have engaged in the procurement of sensitive items used for Russian military operations, like UAVs and missiles. Protection of European companiesIn order to better protect European companies from litigations with Russian counterparts, the Council decided to prohibit the recognition or enforcement in the EU of those rulings issued by Russian courts based on Article 248 of the Arbitration Procedure Code of the Russian Federation. These rulings have been preventing the opposing party from commencing or continuing a proceeding in a jurisdiction other than Russia (anti suit injunctions) in clear violation of established international principles and practices, and have often resulted in disproportionately high financial penalties for European companies. The new measure prevents those penalties from being executed against EU operators in Europe. Furthermore, the Council introduced a derogation allowing the release of cash balances held by EU central securities depositories (CSDs). This is necessary in light of increasing litigation and retaliatory measures in Russia that result in the seizing of assets of CSDs in the EU. Thanks to this derogation CSDs will be able to request competent authorities of the Member States to unfreeze cash balances and use them to meet their legal obligations with their clients. Lastly, the EU extended the deadlines applicable to certain derogations needed for divestments from Russia. Because of the risks of maintaining business activities in Russia, EU operators should consider winding down businesses in Russia and/or not to start new businesses there. The exceptional extension of the divestment derogations is necessary to enable EU operators to exit as swiftly as possible from the Russian market. The extended derogations are granted on a case-by-case-basis by member states and focused on allowing an orderly divestment process, which would not be possible without the extension of these deadlines. The relevant legal acts will soon be published in the Official Journal of the EU. BackgroundIn its conclusions of 17 October 2024, the European Council reiterated its resolute condemnation of Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine, which constitutes a manifest violation of the UN Charter, and reaffirmed its continued support for Ukraine’s independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity within its internationally recognised borders. The European Council also reconfirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to providing continued political, financial, economic, humanitarian, military and diplomatic support to Ukraine and its people for as long as it takes and as intensely as needed. Ukraine must win this war. The EU remains ready to further limit Russia’s ability to wage war, including by further sanctions. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 10:20 | Press release | | | | | The Council today adopted updated EU rules on the import, export, and transit of firearms. The new regulation aims to close loopholes exploited for firearms trafficking while facilitating legitimate trade and movement of firearms. The revised regulation will enhance the traceability of firearms for civilian use, by harmonising procedures across the EU and improving cooperation between national authorities. They also introduce measures to ensure that legally manufactured firearms exported from the EU are not diverted to the illegal market. The new rules also aim to make procedures simpler and more efficient for legitimate users, such as hunters, sport shooters, and exhibitors, by introducing harmonised and digitalised processes. At the same time, they reduce administrative burdens for manufacturers and dealers while ensuring high security standards. Next stepsThe regulation will be published in the EU’s Official Journal and enter into force 20 days later. BackgroundIt is estimated that in 2017, civilians in the EU owned approximately 35 million illicit firearms, accounting for 56% of the estimated total number of firearms in circulation. The previous firearms regulation, in force since 2012, set out rules governing the export, import, and transit of firearms, their parts and components, and ammunition. It implemented Article 10 of the United Nations Protocol against the Illicit Manufacturing of and Trafficking in Firearms, Their Parts and Components, and Ammunition. This regulation complements the EU’s Firearms Directive, which establishes minimum common rules on the acquisition and possession of firearms within the EU, as well as their transfer between member states. On 27 October 2022, the Commission presented a proposal to update the regulation. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 10:16 | Press release | | | | | To ensure safer road traffic across Europe, the Council today adopted a new law amending the 2015 directive on cross-border exchange of information on road-safety-related traffic offences. The new legislation forms part of the so-called ‘road safety’ legislative package. Main elements of the new legislation The revised directive aims to: - increase compliance of non-resident drivers with additional road-safety-related traffic rules,
- streamline mutual assistance procedures between member states in the cross-border investigation of road-safety-related traffic offences, and
- strengthen the protection of fundamental rights of non-resident offenders.
The co-legislators introduced several changes to the initial Commission proposal, mainly aiming to clarify the scope and the definitions of the legal act. These entail amongst others: - introducing the concept of the ‘concerned person’, as the person who is identified as liable for a road-safety-related traffic offence,
- clarifying the roles and responsibilities of the national contact points and the competent authorities,
- adding more offences to the revised directive, such as cases of not respecting rules on vehicle access restrictions, at a railway level-crossing or giving way to emergency service vehicles, hit-and-run cases, in addition to accepting those proposed by the Commission, such as crossing a solid line, dangerous overtaking, dangerous parking, wrong-way driving or use of overloaded vehicles,
- further clarifying the different procedures related to accessing vehicle registration data and the different options for competent authorities to ask mutual assistance with a view to making sure that the concerned person is identified, the traffic offence notice arrives to the right place within a reasonable time frame and the sanction is enforced, and
- putting in place all necessary safeguards to protect the fundamental rights of the driver or any other concerned person, including by setting a clear framework to prevent any abuse by private entities involved in the process of road-safety traffic offences and better mechanisms for the protection of personal data.
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 10:11 | Press release | | | | | The Council has today adopted the regulation on the approval and market surveillance of non-road mobile machinery (NRMM), which harmonises safety requirements for self-propelled machinery including lawn mowers, harvesters or bulldozers that need to circulate on public roads. This is the last step in the decision-making procedure. A single market for non-road machineryThe regulation adopted today unifies, in a single set of rules, safety measures that, to date, were legislated at national level. The regulation proposes a simplified one-step procedure that considers the specific characteristics of non-road mobile machinery. Manufacturers and distributors will have to request approval only once, and just in one member state, for the machinery to be acceptable in all the EU countries. Users (e.g. rental companies) will benefit from a reduction in the compliance costs, and it will be easier for them to use and re-sell machinery in different countries. Drivers, in turn, will benefit from harmonised rules that ensure a high level of road safety across the EU. The role of member states While the regulation adopted today harmonises existing rules across the 27 member states, member states will keep the power to limit the circulation of certain machines (i.e. when such machinery is fully automated, when their size is so large that this could hamper manoeuvrability or so heavy that the machinery could damage roads or other transport infrastructure). Member states will also be able to take measures if the type-approval granted to specific machinery does not comply with the regulation (i.e. they can refuse to recognise it). Producers of small series (less than 70 units per year in each member state) will be exempted from requesting an EU type-approval. Next stepsFollowing the Council’s approval today, the legislative act has been adopted. After being signed by the President of the European Parliament and the President of the Council, the regulation will be published in the Official Journal of the European Union and will enter into force on the 20th day following its publication. It will apply 3 years later in all member states. BackgroundA 2019 study indicated that harmonising requirements at EU level could save between 18% and 22% in compliance costs (around €3.38 million per year in administrative costs). Overall, the regulation may generate up to €846 million in savings for all stakeholders. EU production of non-road mobile machinery is estimated at a value of €12.5 billion per year. The sector is a significant producer and strong exporter of non-road mobile machinery globally. Out of the annual production value, 42% is exported to non-EU countries and 54% is traded within the EU, while only 4% is sold in the EU country where production takes place. The Commission presented the proposal for a regulation on 30 March 2023. The Council adopted its negotiating mandate on 8 November 2023 and the two co-legislators (Council and Parliament) reached a provisional agreement on 21 February 2024. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 10:05 | Press release | | | | | Today, the Council formally adopted a regulation on packaging and packaging waste. The new rules will significantly reduce the generation of packaging waste by setting binding re-use targets, restricting certain types of single-use packaging and requiring economic operators to minimise the packaging used. The regulation covers the full life cycle of packaging. Safe, sustainable and recyclable packaging
The new rules comprise, among others, the following requirements for packaging: - 2030 and 2040 targets for a minimum percentage of recycled content (up to 65% for single use plastic bottles by 2040)
- minimising the weight and volume of packaging and avoiding unnecessary packaging
- minimising substances of concern, including restricting placing on the market food contact packaging containing per- and polyfluorinated alkyl substances (PFAS) if they exceed certain thresholds
Labelling, marking and information requirements (e.g. on material composition or recycled content) should facilitate consumer sorting and consumer choices. Single-use plastic packagingThe new rules introduce restrictions on single-use plastic packaging for: - pre-packed fruit and vegetables of less than 1.5 kg
- food and beverages filled and consumed within hotels, bars and restaurants
- individual portions of condiments, sauces, milk creamer and sugar in hotels, bars and restaurants
- small, single-use cosmetic and toiletry products used in the accommodation sector (e.g. shampoo or body lotion bottles)
- very lightweight plastic bags (e.g. those offered at markets for bulk groceries)
Re-use targets and re-fill obligationsThe regulation sets new binding re-use targets for 2030 and indicative targets for 2040. The targets vary depending on the type of packaging used by operators (for instance, binding targets of 40% for transport and sales packaging and 10% for grouped packaging). According to the new rules, take-away businesses will have to offer customers the possibility of bringing their own containers to be filled with cold or hot beverages or ready-prepared food, at no additional charge. Next stepsThe formal adoption by the Council today marks the final step in the ordinary legislative procedure. The regulation will now be published in the EU’s Official Journal and will enter into force. The regulation will be applied 18 months after the date of entry into force. BackgroundEven though recycling rates have increased in the EU, the amount of waste generated from packaging is growing faster than the amount recycled. In 2022, the EU generated almost 186.5 kilograms of waste packaging per person, of which 36 were plastic packaging. This means that each day we produce half a kilogram of packaging waste per person in the EU. The current EU packaging and packaging waste directive was first adopted in 1994 and has been revised several times. It lays down rules to prevent and manage packaging waste across EU member states. However, several assessments of the directive have shown that it has not succeeded in reducing the negative environmental impacts of packaging. Against this backdrop, in November 2022 the Commission put forward a proposal for a regulation on packaging and packaging waste that would replace the existing directive and update the current framework for packaging and packaging waste across the entire life cycle, towards a circular economy and a climate-neutral Europe. The European Parliament and the Council adopted their positions on the proposed regulation in November and December 2023, respectively. The two co-legislators reached a provisional agreement on 4 March 2024 after two rounds of informal negotiations. |
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15/12/2024 | Article Weekly Presidency Newsletter - 15 December 2024Welcome to the third issue of Weekly Presidency Newsletter in December, the weekly newsletter of the Hungarian presidency, in which we take a look at the events of the last week. This week the focus was on the AGRIFISH Council, the Meeting of Heads of Medicines Agencies and the Justice and Home Affairs Council. |
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| ● Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 13:34 | Press release | | | | | For the first time ever, the Council today decided to impose restrictive measures against 16 individuals and three entities responsible for Russia’s destabilising actions abroad. These measures are in response to Russia’s malicious actions and its lack of respect for a rules-based international order and international law. The relevant framework for restrictive measures was set up on 8 October 2024 to target those engaged in actions and policies by the government of the Russian Federation, which undermine the fundamental values of the EU and its member states, their security, stability, independence and integrity, as well as those of international organisations and third countries through hybrid activities of various kinds, including the use of coordinated information manipulation and interference. On the same day, the EU also issued a statement condemning Russia’s intensifying campaign of hybrid activities. Today’s listings include GRU Unit 29155, a covert unit within the Russian military intelligence agency (GRU), known for its involvement in foreign assassinations and destabilisation activities such as bombings and cyber-attacks across Europe, and some of its military personnel active in Ukraine, Western Europe and Africa. Concerning the latter, the Council decided to list the Groupe Panafricain pour le Commerce et l’Investissement, a disinformation network carrying out pro-Russian covert influence operations, particularly in the Central African Republic and Burkina Faso, and its founder, Harouna Douamba. In addition, the Council listed African Initiative, a news agency involved in spreading Russian propaganda and disinformation on the African continent, its editor-in-chief and a Russian Federal Security Service (FSB) Officer involved in coordinated disinformation campaigns, both in Europe and Africa, Artem Kureev, as well as a high-ranking military official of the GRU, that took over the operations of the Wagner Group in Africa, after the death of Yevgeny Prigozhin. In addition the Council targeted the “Doppelganger” campaign, a Russian-led digital disinformation campaign aimed at manipulating information and spreading disinformation in support of the Russian war of aggression against Ukraine and targeting EU member states, the United States and Ukraine, by sanctioning Sofia Zakharova, the department head in the Office of the President of the Russian Federation for the Development of Information and Communication Technologies and Communications Infrastructure, and Nikolai Tupikin, head and founder of GK Struktura. Today’s sanctions also target Vladimir Sergiyenko, a former parliamentary assistant of the Member of the German Bundestag, Eugen Schmidt, who actively colluded with Russian intelligence officers, and a Russian entrepreneur, Visa Mizaev, and his business partner and wife, who played a key role in a Russian intelligence operation against the German Federal Intelligence Service (BND) in which highly classified information was passed to the FSB. Lastly, the Council also targeted collaborators of the Government of the Russian Federation in France: Alesya Miloradovich, a Russian government employee, and Anatolii Prizenko, a Moldovan businessman who coordinated the dispatch of several Moldovan citizens to France in October 2023. Those designated today will be subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies will be forbidden from making funds available to them. In addition, natural persons will also be subject to a travel ban, which will prevent them from entering or transiting through EU territories. In its conclusions of 27 June 2024, the European Council strongly condemned all types of hybrid activities, which are on the rise and target the EU, its member states and partners. |
| Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 13:21 | Press release | | | | | The Council today approved additional restrictive measures against four individuals, in view of the gravity of the situation in Sudan, where continuous fighting is ongoing between the Sudanese Armed Forces (SAF) and the Rapid Support Forces (RSF). On the SAF side, the Council has sanctioned Mohamed Ali Ahmed Subir, a Lieutenant General in charge of military intelligence operations. He is responsible for the harassment, arbitrary arrest and detention of members of civil society, as well as cases of sexual violence and torture. The Council has also listed Salah Abdallah Mohamed Salah, also known as “Salah Gosh”, the former national security advisor of the Republic of Sudan and former Director of the Sudanese National Intelligence and Security Service. Salah is behind many actions taken by the SAF and the intelligence operations department. On the RSF side, restrictive measures are imposed on Osman Mohamed Hamid, a Major General in charge of the operations since the outbreak of the conflict and responsible for violations of international human rights law and of international humanitarian law committed by the RSF. Lastly, the Council has also listed Tijani Karshom, the de facto Governor of West Darfur. Karshom has facilitated the recruitment of militias to fight along the RSF and is involved in planning, directing and committing serious human rights abuses and violations of international humanitarian law in West Darfur. Those designated today are subject to an asset freeze and EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. In addition, they are subject to a travel ban to the EU. The imposition of these restrictive measures underlines EU’s unwavering support for peace and accountability in Sudan. The EU reaffirms its steadfast support and solidarity with the Sudanese people and its commitment to working with regional and international partners to facilitate a peaceful resolution to the crisis and to address the dire humanitarian situation. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. BackgroundThe Council adopted on 9 October 2023 the Decision (CFSP) 2023/2135 concerning restrictive measures in view of activities undermining the stability and political transition of Sudan. The Council adopted restrictive measures against six entities on 22 January 2024, and against six individuals on 24 June 2024. With the additional sanctions adopted today, the EU’s restrictive measures apply to ten individuals and six entities. |
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| Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 13:03 | Press release | | | | | The Council today decided to impose restrictive measures on additional 26 individuals and 2 entities from Belarus, in view of the situation in the country. Restrictive measures were imposed on various members of the judiciary, namely judges who issued politically motivated sentences, including against citizens who voiced their opinions against the Lukashenka regime, the system and the brutality of Belarusian law enforcement structures, and are therefore responsible for the repression of civil society and the democratic opposition. Furthermore, restrictive measures are also imposed on the heads and deputy heads of various correctional institutions (prisons and a pre-trial detention centre), as well as the head of a medical unit in one of these institutions, where a number of political prisoners face inhumane conditions and are subject to abuses. Today’s listings also include individuals who, as business owners, part-owners, associates, or members of boards of directors, benefitted from the Lukashenka regime, including through the privileges awarded or advantages granted to their companies by the regime, and contributed to circumvent EU sanctions. Vlate Logistik LLC, a Belarusian transport and storage company, which owns two border checkpoints on the EU-Belarus border and enjoys significant tax advantages and benefits from the Lukashenka regime, is one of the two sanctioned entities, together with its shareholders Aleh Barabanau, Aleh Herasim, Aleh Paitrou, Dzmitry Zamulevich, and Uladzimir Arkadzyeu. Lastly, the other sanctioned entity is Ruzekspeditsiya LLC, a Belarusian company which benefits from the regime and facilitates the circumvention of EU sanctions by participating in the delivery of cars prohibited to be sold, supplied, transferred or exported from the EU to Belarus. Ruzekspeditsiya is listed together with its owner, Aleh Arlou. Altogether, EU restrictive measures against Belarus now apply to 287 individuals and 39 entities. Those designated today are subject to an asset freeze and EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. Natural persons are additionally subject to a travel ban, which prevents them from entering or transiting through EU member states. The EU stands with the people of Belarus and unwaveringly supports the Belarusian people’s quest for a free, democratic, sovereign and independent Belarus as part of a peaceful Europe. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. BackgroundSince August 2020, the EU has imposed several successive rounds of individual and sectoral sanctions, against those responsible for internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus, and in the context of Belarus’ involvement in Russia’s war against Ukraine. With these measures, the EU is signalling to the political and economic actors responsible that their actions and support for the regime and to Russia come at a cost. In its conclusions dated 19 February 2024, the Council expressed its deep concern about the deteriorating human rights situation in Belarus, and strongly condemned the continuing persecution and intimidation campaigns against all segments of Belarusian society by the Belarusian regime. It deplored that political prisoners remain incarcerated in appalling conditions, exposed to torture and ill-treatment, without access to essential health services, and that many of these prisoners have been kept for long periods of time without contact with their lawyers and relatives. The EU urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally release all political prisoners, and abolish the death penalty. On 5 August 2024, the Council decided to impose restrictive measures on 28 individuals for their role in the ongoing internal repression and human rights violations in Belarus. These sanctions were adopted ahead of the fourth anniversary of the fraudulent presidential elections of August 2020. |
| Council of the EU | | | 16/12/2024 12:44 | Press release | | | | | Today the Council adopted restrictive measures against three Haitian individuals in view of the escalating gang violence, unremitting serious human rights abuses committed by the gangs in the country, and the continuing impunity for the perpetrators. Today’s listings include Jonel Catel, leader of the Terre Noir gang which is affiliated with the G9 coalition of gangs in Haiti, Gabriel Jean-Pierre, leader of GPep coalition of gangs, and Ferdens Tilus, leader of Kokorat San Ras Gang. They have engaged in criminal activities and violence in Haiti involving armed groups and criminal networks that promote violence, including robbery, ransoming, kidnapping, extortion, murders and rape. Those designated are subject to an asset freeze and EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds, financial assets or economic resources available to them. In addition, they are subject to a travel ban to the EU. In its conclusions of 17 October 2024, the European Council stated it remained extremely concerned about the situation in Haiti. It called for the full deployment of the Multinational Security Support Mission to assist the Haitian National Police in combating gang violence and restore the rule of law. The European Council also called for new targeted sanctions against individuals and entities responsible for violence, with the objective of helping to restore peace, security, stability, democracy and the rule of law in Haiti. The EU is ready to consider additional measures in response to the continuing violence affecting the country. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the European Union. BackgroundOn 21 October 2022, the United Nations Security Council adopted resolution 2653 (2022), which established a sanctions regime on Haiti, including targeted assets freeze, travel restrictions and arms embargo measures. On 25 November 2022, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2022/2319 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Haiti implementing that UNSC Resolution. On 28 July 2023, the Council amended its sanctions regime in view of the situation in Haiti, allowing the EU to autonomously impose restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of Haiti, or for undermining democracy or the rule of law in Haiti. This framework complements the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council in October 2022. The European Union is a long-standing political and development partner of Haiti, and will continue to play its part alongside other regional partners, to help face the dire situation, including humanitarian crisis in the country. The EU has allocated nearly EUR 40M in humanitarian aid over the past two years and has committed an additional EUR 30M for 2024. Another EUR 40M is allocated in 2024 from the development cooperation envelope. Furthermore, the EU is working to provide a direct contribution of up to EUR 10M to the Trust Fund financing the Multinational Security Support (MSS) Mission authorised by the UNSC with resolution 2699/2022. The EU is also providing significant indirect support to the MSS (EUR 20M) through support to the Kenyan Defence Forces via the European Peace Facility to improve capabilities for peace-keeping operations, and a EUR 3M contribution to a UNDP-managed basket fund in support of the Haitian National Police. Bringing total support to approximately EUR 170M, these contributions reflect the EU’s comprehensive and on-going support to the Haitian people. |
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