Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty establishing the European Community, and in particular Article 300(2) thereof,

Having regard to the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement signed in Cotonou on 23 June 2000^f1 and revised in Luxembourg on 25 June 2005^f2,

Having regard to the Internal Agreement between the representatives of the governments of the Member States, meeting within the Council, on measures to be taken and procedures to be followed for the implementation of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement^f3, and in particular Article 3 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the Commission,

Whereas:

By Council Decision 2002/148/EC^f4, the consultations with the Republic of Zimbabwe under Article 96(2)(c) of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement were concluded and appropriate measures, as specified in the Annex to that Decision, were taken.

By Decision 2008/158/EC^f5, the application of the measures referred to in Article 2 of Decision 2002/148/EC, which had been extended until 20 February 2004 by Article 1 of Decision 2003/112/EC^f6, until 20 February 2005 by Article 1 of Decision 2004/157/EC^f7, until 20 February 2006 by Article 1 of Decision 2005/139/EC^f8, until 20 February 2007 by Article 1 of Decision 2006/114/EC^f9 and until 18 February 2008 by Article 1 of Decision 2007/127/EC^f10, was extended for a further period of 12 months until 20 February 2009.

The essential elements cited in Article 9 of the ACP-EC Partnership Agreement continue to be violated by the Government of Zimbabwe, and the current conditions in Zimbabwe do not ensure respect for human rights, democratic principles and the rule of law.

The period of application of the measures should therefore be extended,

HAS DECIDED AS FOLLOWS: