Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to Common Position 2006/276/CFSP of 10 April 2006 concerning restrictive measures against certain officials of Belarus^f1, and in particular Article 2 thereof, in conjunction with the second indent of Article 23(2) of the Treaty on European Union,

Whereas:

On 10 April 2006, the Council adopted Common Position 2006/276/CFSP, which confirmed the existing restrictive measures against the persons responsible for the violations of international electoral standards in the Presidential elections in Belarus on 19 March 2006 and the crackdown on civil society and democratic opposition and those natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them.

On 18 May 2006, the Council adopted Common Position 2006/362/CFSP amending Common Position 2006/276/CFSP, in order to impose a freezing of funds and economic resources on the persons, as well as the natural or legal persons, entities or bodies associated with them, referred to above.

In accordance with Common Position 2006/276/CFSP, the Council has reviewed the restrictive measures and decided, in the light of recent developments, that further individuals responsible for the crackdown on civil society and democratic opposition should be targeted. The lists contained in Annexes III and IV to Common Position 2006/276/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: