EU Council Conclusions on Burma/Myanmar

2795th GENERAL AFFAIRS Council meeting, Luxembourg

The Council adopted the following conclusions:

"The Council:

• Reaffirms its commitment to supporting the process of peaceful change and national reconciliation in Burma/Myanmar and renews the Common Position extending restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar.

• Expresses deep concern on the lack of tangible progress in the promised transition towards a legitimate civilian government. The Council encourages Burma/Myanmar to make progress towards national reconciliation and to involve constructively all political parties and ethnic groups in an inclusive dialogue. The Council reiterates its call for the early release of all political prisoners and calls for an end to the military campaign against civilians in conflict areas.

• Continues to be concerned by serious violations of human rights, restrictions on domestic human rights organisations and international human rights institutions by the government of Burma/Myanmar.

• Expresses its support for the UN Secretary General's good offices to bring about peaceful political change and welcomes ASEAN's continued efforts to encourage reform and reconciliation.

• Supports the on-going efforts by the international community, the Commission and Member states to address Burma/Myanmar's humanitarian challenges and welcomes the establishment of the Three Diseases Fund to tackle the problems of HIV/AIDS, tuberculosis and malaria.

• Welcomes the Supplementary Understanding agreed between the International Labour Organization (ILO) and the government of Burma/Myanmar on 26 February to enable victims of forced labour to seek redress, and urges the government of Burma/Myanmar to ensure the full implementation of this agreement.

• Reaffirms its willingness to consider the suspension of these restrictive measures and to substantively step up co-operation in response to substantial improvement in the political situation in Burma/Myanmar."

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