Council Regulation (EU) 2023/720 amending certain Council Regulations concerning restrictive measures in order to insert provisions on a humanitarian exemption

Summary:

Regulation (EU) 2023/720 - adopted by the Council of the European Union on 31 March 2023 - introducing amendments to the existing legislative framework of restrictive measures in order to insert provisions on a humanitarian exemption.

Further information:

In December 2022, the United Nations (UN) Security Council adopted Resolution (UNSCR) 2664 (2022). It introduces a so-called humanitarian exemption, whereby sanctions in the form of asset freezes exempt humanitarian assistance and other activities that support basic human needs, applicable to certain actors. In March 2023, Council Decision (CFSP) 2023/726 was adopted to give effect to the UNSCR Resolution in EU law.

The European Union (EU) is able to impose restrictive measures against designated natural or legal persons, entities and bodies. A number of Council Regulations give effect to those measures. This Act amends Council Regulation (EC) No 881/2002, Council Regulation (EC) No 1183/2005, Council Regulation (EU) No 267/2012, Council Regulation (EU) 747/2014, Council Regulation (EU) 2015/735, Council Regulation (EU) 2016/1686, Council Regulation (EU) 2016/44, Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1509 and Council Regulation (EU) 2017/1770 accordingly. The Council of the European Union considered that the humanitarian exemption to the asset freeze measures should also apply in cases where the EU decides to adopt complementary measures concerning the freezing of funds and economic resources in addition to those decided by the UN.

This Council Regulation was adopted on 31 March 2023 and published in the Official Journal on 3 April 2023.

Official

United Nations: Security Council Resolution 2664 - General issues relating to sanctions http://unscr.com/en/resolutions/2664

Council of the European Union: Press Release, 31/03/2023: Humanitarian action: EU introduces exemptions to sanctions to facilitate the delivery of assistance https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2023/03/31/humanitarian-action-eu-introduces-exemptions-to-sanctions-to-facilitate-the-delivery-of-assistance/

---