Thursday

28th Mar 2024

EU turns up heat on Burmese junta

Unhappy with the little improvement on human rights in Myanmar (Burma), EU foreign ministers, meeting yesterday (Monday), have decided to crank up the pressure on the ruling military junta, by threatening to extend and expand existing EU sanctions.

Yangon’s (Rangoon) reluctance to engage in a process of democratisation with opposition leaders has been met with the threat of a 12-month extension of sanctions.

Read and decide

Join EUobserver today

Get the EU news that really matters

Instant access to all articles — and 20 years of archives. 14-day free trial.

... or subscribe as a group

The current measures include visa restrictions and freezing the assets of key members of the Burmese authority, the ‘State Peace and Development Council’, and those close to them.

Foreign ministers are also threatening to expand these measures to cover more individuals and to strengthen the current arms embargo, if the regime does not show signs of movement by 29 October this year.

The EU has been employing a 'carrot and stick' policy with the rulers of the south east Asian state, considered to be one of the world’s most oppressive.

In return for a normalisation in the country – improved human rights, introduction of democracy and economic reform - the EU is offering the cash-strapped country "new and stronger links between Burma/Myanmar and the European Union".

Visit to Burma

Leaders have also announced an exception to the ban on high-level visits to the country, in order to send a delegation to the country.

A Commission spokesperson said however that this delegation going "will depend entirely on the level at which they are received", which, in effect means meeting with General Than Shwe, head of the junta.

The EU delegates however will be from a 'political level', drawn from within the Commission, the Greek Foreign Ministry and the Council Secretariat.

They will also meet with (Daw) Aung San Suu Kyi, leader of the National League for Democracy. The NLD is the leading opposition party and was elected to government in 1990 winning 82% of seats; the military later annulled the vote.

Smart sanctions

European leaders are at pains to show that this extension is a measure of a "carefully calibrated" sanctions regime so it is not seen to adversely affect the Burmese population.

Brussels, generally a fan of constructive engagement, is also keen to send a message to other nations that it is not scared to use the 'stick' if no progress is made towards reform.

Among the places where the EU uses this method of diplomacy is Iran where the Union began negotiations towards a Trade and Co-operation Agreement last year, involving discussions on human rights and counter terrorism, as well as trade.

EU continues dialogue with Burmese junta

The EU has continued its policy of constructive engagement with the ruling Burmese military junta, the State Peace and Development Council (SPDC). The latest EU troika visit, according to the Danish presidency, was designed to get a feeling for the situation on the ground.

Iran - Patten calls for "concrete improvements"

The EU has given its strongest indication to date that Iran's slow progress in improving human rights is jeopardising EU-Iran relations. Speaking in Tehran on Wednesday, External Relations Commissioner, Chris Patten called on Iran's leaders to make "concrete improvements on the ground."

EU foreign chief hints at Burma crackdown

EU foreign policy chief Javier Solana has indicated that further EU sanctions against the Burmese military regme will follow the recent detention of pro-democracy leaders.

US and EU breaking taboos to restrain Israel

The US abstained and all EU states on the UN Security Council backed a call for an "immediate ceasefire" in Gaza, as Europe prepares to also blacklist extremist Israeli settlers.

EU warns Russia over Moscow terror attacks

Europe has warned Russia not to use the weekend's terror attacks in Moscow as a pretext to escalate its war in Ukraine and crackdown on internal dissent.

Opinion

Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Rather than assuming a pro-European Labour government in London will automatically open doors in Brussels, the Labour party needs to consider what it may be able to offer to incentivise EU leaders to factor the UK into their defence thinking.

Latest News

  1. Kenyan traders react angrily to proposed EU clothes ban
  2. Lawyer suing Frontex takes aim at 'antagonistic' judges
  3. Orban's Fidesz faces low-polling jitters ahead of EU election
  4. German bank freezes account of Jewish peace group
  5. EU Modernisation Fund: an open door for fossil gas in Romania
  6. 'Swiftly dial back' interest rates, ECB told
  7. Moscow's terror attack, security and Gaza
  8. Why UK-EU defence and security deal may be difficult

Stakeholders' Highlights

  1. Nordic Council of MinistersJoin the Nordic Food Systems Takeover at COP28
  2. Nordic Council of MinistersHow women and men are affected differently by climate policy
  3. Nordic Council of MinistersArtist Jessie Kleemann at Nordic pavilion during UN climate summit COP28
  4. Nordic Council of MinistersCOP28: Gathering Nordic and global experts to put food and health on the agenda
  5. Friedrich Naumann FoundationPoems of Liberty – Call for Submission “Human Rights in Inhume War”: 250€ honorary fee for selected poems
  6. World BankWorld Bank report: How to create a future where the rewards of technology benefit all levels of society?

Join EUobserver

EU news that matters

Join us