The European Union has agreed to lift most sanctions against Zimbabwe companies and individuals once the country has held "peaceful and credible" referendum on the new constitution. The final draft of the Zimbabwean constitution has been handed to the Global Political Agreement principals for final determination. The statement from the EU ministers said sanctions would be lifted against most of Zimbabweans still under an EU asset freeze and travel ban decided in 2002.
3183rd FOREIGN AFFAIRS Council meeting
Brussels, 23 July 2012
The Council adopted the following conclusions:
"1. The EU is encouraged by the progress that is being made in implementing the Global Political Agreement (GPA) by the Government of National Unity (GNU) in Zimbabwe. It welcomes the constructive dialogue that has been established in the process of EU re-engagement with all parties in the GNU, including through the meeting in May this year between High Representative Ashton and the members of the Zimbabwe Ministerial Re-engagement Committee. The EU welcomes the continued commitment of SADC to support the implementation of the GPA, as expressed at the recent extraordinary SADC Summit in Luanda.
2. The steps taken by the GNU to improve the freedom and prosperity of the Zimbabwean people justify the immediate suspension of the measures hitherto applied under Article 96 of the Cotonou Agreement. This will allow the EU to work directly with the GNU to develop new assistance programmes for the benefit of the people of Zimbabwe that would come on stream under the next European Development Fund.
3. The EU welcomes the recent visit to Zimbabwe of the UN HCHR at the invitation of the GNU. It recognises the improvement that has been achieved in the human rights situation although significant areas of concern remain.
4. As indicated in February this year and consistent with its incremental approach, the EU will further adjust its policy to recognise progress as it is made by the Zimbabwean parties along the SADC roadmap. The EU agrees that a peaceful and credible constitutional referendum would represent an important milestone in the preparation of democratic elections that would justify a suspension of the majority of all EU targeted restrictive measures against individuals and entities.
5. The EU reaffirms its partnership with the people of Zimbabwe. It calls on all parties to seize the momentum to complete implementation of the GPA in preparation for elections next year."
Comments Post a comment