EU sets up autonomous framework for restrictive measures

Islamabad: The EU Council amended its sanctions regime in view of the situation in Haiti, allowing the EU to autonomously impose restrictive measures on individuals and entities responsible for threatening the peace, security or stability of Haiti, or for undermining democracy or the rule of law in Haiti.

Today’s decision sets up the new framework for autonomous EU measures. No individuals or entities are being listed at this stage, in line with EU’s gradual approach. The framework complements the sanctions imposed by the United Nations Security Council in October 2022.

The current situation in Haiti constitutes a threat to international peace and security in the region. Today, we adopted a new framework for autonomous EU measures, which I recently proposed to complement the United Nations measures in place. With this new framework for restrictive measures, we are sending a clear signal to Haitian gang leaders and their financiers: we know how they operate and there will be no impunity. The EU stands with Haiti and its people.

The Council remains concerned about the high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, sexual and gender-based violence, embezzlement of public funds, ongoing impunity for perpetrators as well as the dire humanitarian situation in Haiti with devastating consequences for the Haitian population.

The restrictive measures consist of a travel ban for individuals and the freezing of funds belonging to both individuals and entities. In addition, persons and entities in the EU will be forbidden from making funds available to those listed, either directly or indirectly.

The EU is a long-standing partner of Haiti, providing its support for the country’s stability, development, and better integration in the Caribbean region, which includes EU overseas territories. The EU has allocated more than €200 million in bilateral assistance to the country since 2021, with the focus on enabling the continuity of basic public services for the Haitian population in the current insecure and volatile context.

The EU continues to stand with the people of Haiti and reaffirms its full commitment to support this country in its path towards stability, including re-establishing the rule of law and security, guaranteeing human rights of its citizens and organising inclusive and peaceful elections.