Britain files request for EU sanctions on Hezbollah

The UK has asked the European Union (EU) countries to designate the military wing of Lebanese group Hezbollah as a terrorist entity.

The news comes from a British foreign ministry spokesman, that told the Reuters news agency on 21 May 2013: 'We are calling for Europe to respond collectively and robustly following the atrocious terrorist attack at Burgas airport ... We firmly believe that an appropriate EU response would be to designate Hezbollah's military wing as a terrorist organisation.'

On the 19 June 2013 EUObserver wrote that the UK was going to have a second go at persuading EU sceptics to blacklist Hezbollah at a meeting in Brussels.

A small group of EU countries on the 20 June 2013 blocked again Britain's bid to blacklist Lebanese group Hezbollah.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: Israeli leader urges EU to blacklist Hezbollah http://www.europeansources.info/record/israeli-leader-urges-eu-to-blacklist-hezbollah/

EurActiv, 22.05.13: UK wants Hezbollah on EU terrorist list http://www.euractiv.com/justice/uk-asks-eu-put-hezbollah-terrori-news-519893

France 24, 23.05.13: France backs move to list Hezbollah as terror group http://www.france24.com/en/20130523-france-supports-eu-list-hezbollah-terror-group-syria

EUObserver, 28.01.13: EU official: Hezbollah unlikely to get on terrorism blacklist http://euobserver.com/foreign/118859

EUObserver, 19.06.13: UK has second go at EU listing of Hezbollah http://euobserver.com/justice/120550

EUObserver, 20.06.13: EU countries block blacklisting of Hezbollah http://euobserver.com/foreign/120578

---