COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,update

 

Press material Monday, 17 March 2025

● Council of the EU   17/03/2025 15:24 | Press release | Democratic Republic of the Congo: EU lists further nine individuals and one entity   Today, the Council imposed restrictive measures on nine individuals and one entity responsible for acts that constitute serious human rights violations and abuses in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC), for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC and exploiting the armed conflict through the illicit exploitation or trade of natural resources. These restrictive measures have been adopted in view of the escalation of the conflict in eastern DRC related to the renewed offensive of the March 23 Movement(M23) / Alliance Fleuve Congo (AFC) supported by the Rwanda Defence Force (RDF). The EU has listed fivesenior leaders of the M23, a UN sanctioned non-governmental armed group operating in Eastern DRC, which sustains the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, in particular through inciting violence, and is responsible for serious human rights violations and abuses. The M23 related listings include: the movement’s president Bertrand Bisimwa, the head of recruitment and propaganda Désiré Rukomera, colonel John Imani Nzenze, the deputy chief of finances and production of M23/ARC Jean-Bosco Nzabonimpa Mupenzi, and Joseph Musanga Bahati, who was appointed governor of North Kivu within the new illegal “administration” imposed by the M23 in violation of Congolese sovereignty. Today's listings also include the commander of the Special forces of the RDF Ruki Karusisi, RDF major general and commander of the 3rd division Eugene Nkubito, and RDF brigadier general and commander of the 2nd division Pascal Muhizi. Due to their roles in the RDF, they are responsible for sustaining the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC. Lastly, the EU listed Francis Kamanzi a.k.a Erasto, chief executive officer of the Rwanda Mines, Petroleum and Gas Board (RMB) who, due to his leading position in the RMB, is responsible for exploiting the armed conflict through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources - in this case conflict minerals. The EU also listed Gasabo Gold Refinery, based in Kigali and responsible for illegally importing gold from M23-controlled regions in the DRC, thus also exploiting the armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC. Altogether, EU autonomous restrictive measures in view of the situation in the DRC now apply to a total of 32 individuals and 2 entities. Those designated are subject to a travel ban and an asset freeze. Furthermore, EU citizens and companies are forbidden from making funds available to them. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU. Background EU autonomous individual restrictive measures in view of the situation in the DRC were adopted by the Council for the first time in 2016 in response to serious human rights violations and the obstruction of the electoral process. On 5 December 2022, the Council decided to amend the designation criteria to allow for the application of individual restrictive measures against natural or legal persons, entities or bodies that sustain, support or benefit from the armed conflict, instability or insecurity in the DRC, as well as those responsible for inciting violence, or exploiting the armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC, including through the illicit exploitation and trade of natural resources. On 25 January 2025, the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy issued a statement on behalf of the EU expressing its deep concern at the latest escalation of the conflict in eastern DRC, aggravated by the renewed offensive of the M23 armed group supported by the RDF, and the consequent undermining of African-led efforts to reach a peaceful resolution. In the statement, the EU stressed it would consider all the tools at its disposal in order to hold accountable those responsible for sustaining armed conflict, instability and insecurity in the DRC. The 34 EU autonomous listings complement the current 53 UN listings adopted in view of the situation in the DRC. Council Implementing Decision (CFSP) 2025/510 of 17 March 2025 implementing Decision 2010/788/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo Democratic Republic of the Congo: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the EU on the latest escalation in eastern DRC, 25 January 2025 Democratic Republic of the Congo: Council renews EU restrictive measures for a further year, 9 December 2024 (Press Release) Consolidated text: Council Decision 2010/788/CFSP of 20 December 2010 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in the Democratic Republic of the Congo (dated 11 December 2024)

● Council of the EU

17/03/2025 12:10 | Press release | ISIL(Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda: the Council adds one entity to its autonomous list of sanctions   The Council decided today to add Al Azaim Media Foundation to the EU autonomous list of persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with ISIL(Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda, and therefore subject to EU restrictive measures. Al Azaim Media Foundation is the media branch of the Islamic State’s Khorasan Province. With today’s decision, the autonomous list of those associated with ISIL(Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda comprises a total of 15 persons and 7 groups. Those targeted are subject to an asset freeze, which includes a prohibition on EU persons and operators from making funds or economic resources available to the listed persons and groups. The persons listed are also subject to a travel ban. Today's decision reconfirms the EU's resolve in countering the continued terrorist threat posed by Al-Qaeda, ISIL/Da'esh and their regional affiliates. The EU remains committed to taking decisive action against those who continue to threaten international peace and security by planning, financing and committing terrorist attacks, and by spreading their deadly terrorist propaganda around the world. The relevant legal acts have been published in the Official Journal of the EU. Background As of September 2016, the EU can autonomously impose sanctions against ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them. The EU autonomous restrictive measures are complementary to those imposed by the UN Security Council against ISIL(Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda. On 8 October 2024, the Council prolonged existing restrictive measures against ISIL(Da'esh), Al-Qaeda and natural and legal persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them for a further year, until 31 October 2025. Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/514 of 17 March 2025 amending Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da’esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/1693 of 20 September 2016 concerning restrictive measures against ISIL (Da'esh) and Al-Qaeda and persons, groups, undertakings and entities associated with them and repealing Common Position 2002/402/CFSP (Consolidated text 31 October 2024) ISIL/Da’esh and Al-Qaeda: EU sanctions regime renewed until 31 October 2025 (press release 8 October 2024) Sanctions against terrorism (background information)

Council of the EU

17/03/2025 11:43 | Media advisory | Media advisory - General Affairs Council of 18 March 2025   Indicative programme All times are approximate and subject to change Place: Europa building, Brussels Chair: Adam Szłapka, Minister for the European Union of Poland from 08.00 Arrivals (live streaming) +/- 08.35 Doorstep by Adam Szłapka (live streaming) +/- 10.00 Beginning of the General Affairs Council Adoption of the agenda Approval of "A" items: Legislative list (public session) +/- 12.15 Working lunch +/- 14.15 Legislative programming (public session) Any other business At the end of the meeting (+/- 15.00) press conference in live streaming from Justus Lipsius press room.   Videos and photos from the event

• Council of the EU

­ 17/03/2025 | Media advisory | Presidency event: Informal meeting of the EU Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs (ECOFIN) and Central Bank Governors , Warsaw 11-12 April On 11-12 April 2025, EU Ministers for Economic and Financial Affairs and Central Bank Governors will meet in Warsaw, Poland, for an informal meeting.   The meeting will be chaired by Andrzej Domański, Polish Minister of Finance.   The agenda of the Council and the timings for the press conference will be available on the website of the Polish Presidency    The accreditation for the informal council is open, and the deadline for registration is 28 March 2025.     For more information and to register, click here.  @POLAND25EU

View in browser   Press material Monday, 17 March 2025     ● Council of the EU   17/03/2025 10:26 | Press release | Ukraine Facility: Council approves third payment of close to €3.5 billion to Ukraine   Ukraine will soon receive approximately €3.5 billion after the Council approved a third payment of non-repayable grants and loans to Ukraine under the Ukraine Facility. The main objective of the Facility is to support Ukraine's macro-financial stability and recovery, reconstruction and modernisation. With this third disbursement, Ukraine will have received close to €20 billion under the Ukraine Facility since its entry into force a year ago. The Council concluded today that Ukraine had satisfied the necessary conditions laid down in the Ukraine Plan in order to receive a third disbursement from the Ukraine Facility. Ukraine successfully demonstrated that it had implemented 13 different steps. These include, among others, passing reforms to increase the use of renewable energy; increasing the autonomy of the energy regulator; simplifying border-crossing procedures in line with EU standards; adopting a strategy for agriculture and rural development (including the removal of land mines from agricultural areas); and continuing work on listing its strategic and critical raw materials. The Ukraine Plan sets out Ukraine’s intentions regarding the recovery, reconstruction and modernisation of the country, and a timetable for the reforms it plans to undertake as part of its EU accession process in the next four years. Background The Ukraine Facility, which entered into force on 1 March 2024, provides up to €50 billion of stable financing, in grants and loans, to support Ukraine's recovery, reconstruction, and modernisation for the period 2024 to 2027. Of this, up to €32 billion is indicatively earmarked to support the reforms and investments set out in the Ukraine Plan, whereby disbursements are conditional upon Ukraine fulfilling a number pf pre-established conditions. Since its entry into force, the Ukraine Facility has already disbursed €6 billion by way of bridge financing, €1.89 billion in pre-financing, and two instalments of approximately €4.2 and €4.1 billion. Council approves second payment of close to €4.1 billion under the Ukraine Facility, 9 December 2025 Council gives green light to first payment of nearly €4.2 billion under the Ukraine Facility (press release, 6 August 2024) Ukraine Plan: Council greenlights regular payments under the Ukraine Facility (press release, 14 May 2024) Ukraine Facility: Council and Parliament agree on new support mechanism for Ukraine (press release, 6 February 2024) EU solidarity with Ukraine (background information) The Ukraine Facility (background information)