Sanctions Regimes (Hansard, 25 October 1999)

§ Baroness Scotland of Asthal

New measures have been introduced against Indonesia; certain measures against Libya have been lifted; and amendments have been made to measures in place against the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia. Details are as follows.

IndonesiaOn 16 September, the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (1999/624/CFSP) imposing restrictive measures against Indonesia. These measures are an embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment; a ban on the supply of equipment which might be used for internal repression or terrorism; and the suspension of bilateral military co-operation.

The embargo on the export of arms, munitions and military equipment is being applied to all goods and technology on the Military List which forms Part III of the Export of Goods (Control) Order 1994, as amended.

The Common Position will expire on 17 January 2000.

Following from this Common Position, the EC adopted Regulation 2158/1999 on 11 October which prohibits:

(a) the sale, supply, export or shipment, directly or indirectly, of equipment listed in an annex to the regulation, whether or not originating in the Community, to any person or body in the Republic of Indonesia or to any person or any body for the purpose of any business carried on in, or operated from, the territory of the Republic of Indonesia;

(b) the participation in related activities the object of which is, directly or indirectly, to promote the transactions or activities referred to in (a) above.

EU member states may authorise the transactions or activities referred to at (a) and (b) above in respect to certain items in the annex when they have obtained conclusive evidence that the end use of these items is not for internal repression or terrorism.

The regulation applies within the territory of the Community, including its air space, and on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a member state and to any person elsewhere who is a national of a member state and any body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a member state.

The regulation entered into force on 13 October and is directly applicable in the UK. Legislation has been introduced to provide for licensing and enforcement, including penalties. The Indonesia (Supply, Sale, Export and Shipment of Equipment) (Penalties and Licences) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2822) came into force on 14 October.

The regulation will expire on 17 January 2000.

Libya: On 13 September, the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (1999/611/CFSP) lifting a number of EU sanctions against Libya which were imposed in 1986. These measures were restrictions on the freedom of 4WA movement of Libyan diplomats and consular personnel; the reduction of staff of diplomatic and consular missions; and stricter visa requirements and procedures. The EU arms embargo against Libya, also imposed in 1986, remains in force.

Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (FRY): On 3 September, the Council of the European Union adopted a Common Position (1999/604/CFSP) allowing exceptions to the EU oil embargo and flight ban in relation to Kosovo and Montenegro.

Following from this Common Position, the EC adopted two regulations.

Regulation 2111/1999, adopted on 4 October, repeals and replaces Regulation 900/1999 prohibiting the sale and supply of petroleum and petroleum products to the FRY and provides for member states to authorise the sale, supply, export or shipment of such goods provided that the goods are shipped from the Community to Montenegro or Kosovo without transiting through other parts of Serbia and that the goods shall not leave the territory of Montenegro or Kosovo for any destination elsewhere in Serbia.

The regulation entered into force on 5 October and is directly applicable in the UK. Legislation has been introduced to provide for licensing and enforcement, including penalties. The Federal Republic of Yugoslavia (Supply, Sale and Export of Petroleum and Petroleum Products) (Penalties and Licences) (No. 3) Regulations 1999 (SI 1999/2821) came into force on 14 October.

Regulation 2151/1999, adopted on 11 October, repeals and replaces Regulation 1064/1999 imposing a ban on flights between the European Community and the FRY and provides for member states to authorise specified flights between the territories of the Community and Montenegro or Kosovo provided that the points of departure, intermediate points and points of final destination in the FRY are located only in Montenegro or Kosovo.

The regulation entered into force on 12 October and is directly applicable in the UK.