Sanctions Profile: Burma / Myanmar

They initially expelled all Burma/Myanmar military personnel attached to the country’s diplomatic representations in the EU and to equivalent EU representations in Burma/Myanmar, and imposed an arms embargo. They were subsequently expanded to impose wider-ranging trade sanctions, as well as economic and targeted sanctions because the EU was concerned “at the absence of progress towards democratisation and at the continuing violation of human rights in Burma/Myanmar”.

Those sanctions have been gradually eased to reflect the implementation of political reforms in Burma/Myanmar and moves to redress certain human rights issues. In 2013, the last of the EU’s economic and targeted sanctions were lifted, leaving only an arms embargo in place.

In April 2018, following widespread grave human rights violations committed by Burmese military and security forces (particularly in the Rakhine State), the EU expanded its existing arms embargo to include (i) a prohibition on the export of dual-use goods for use by the military and border guard police, (ii) restrictions on the export of equipment for monitoring communications that might be used for internal repression, and (iii) a prohibition on the provision of military training to, and military cooperation with, the Burma/Myanmar army. The EU also adopted a legal framework to impose targeted sanctions (travel bans and asset freezes) against individuals of the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) and the border guard police responsible for serious human rights violations (Council Decision (CFSP) 2018/655 & Council Regulation (EU) 2018/647).

Summary of Current EU Sanctions:

General

• Arms embargo

Targeted

• Asset freeze
• Travel ban

Designation Criteria

Persons from the Myanmar Armed Forces (Tatmadaw) and the Border Guard Police responsible for:

1. serious human rights violations in Burma/Myanmar;
2. obstructing the provision of humanitarian assistance to civilians in need;
3. obstructing the conduct of independent investigations into alleged serious human rights violations or abuses; and
4. those associated with the above.