On Friday, 19 December, the EU formally adopted a financial sanctions regime against Yemen, by introducing designated party (“DP”) controls against individuals and entities identified by the relevant UN Sanctions Committee as engaging in or providing support for acts that threaten the peace, security or stability of Yemen. In line with DP controls introduced in respect of other sanctions regimes, it is prohibited to make available funds or economic resources to or for the…

Federica Mogherini, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, has issued a declaration on Libya in which she condemns the recent military escalation which risks undermining the UN-facilitated Ghadames process and tipping Libya into a full civil war. Reference is also made to the EU’s concern that the conflict may negatively impact other countries in the region. The Ghadames process is a political dialogue facilitated by the United Nations Support Mission…

The EU has today, with the publication of Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1275/2014, updated its list of persons who are designated under its sanctions regime against the Democratic Republic of the Congo and published a new consolidated list. This list amends the existing Annex I to Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005 (as amended) and is understood to bring the EU designations in line with those made by the United Nations Security Council Committee. For…

Following the annual review of its sanctions against Belarus, the EU has extended these for one year until 31 October 2015 because “not all political prisoners have been released and rehabilitated, and the respect for human rights, the rule of law and democratic principles has not improved”, according to the official press release. 24 individuals and seven entities have been removed from the list of DPs, with effect from today pursuant to Council Implementing Regulation…