Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal of the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

On 20 December 2010, the Council adopted Decision 2010/788/CFSP^f1 concerning restrictive measures against the Democratic Republic of the Congo (DRC).

On 12 December 2016, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2016/2231^f2, which amends Decision 2010/788/CFSP, in response to the obstruction of the electoral process and the related human rights violations in the DRC. Decision (CFSP) 2016/2231 introduced, inter alia, autonomous restrictive measures in Article 3(2) of Decision 2010/788/CFSP.

On the basis of a review of the measures referred to in Article 3(2) of Decision 2010/788/CFSP, the restrictive measures should be renewed until 12 December 2020 and two persons should be removed from the list in Annex II to Decision 2010/788/CFSP.

The statements of reasons relating to certain persons listed in Annex II should be amended.

Moreover, a provision should be added to Decision 2010/788/CFSP specifying that the Council and the High Representative may process personal data in order to carry out their tasks under that Decision.

Decision 2010/788/CFSP should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: