Introductory text

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,

Having regard to Council Decision 2011/666/CFSP of 10 October 2011 amending Decision 2010/639/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Belarus^f1,

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

Whereas:

Council Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 of 18 May 2006^f2 provides for a freezing of the assets of President Lukashenko and certain officials of Belarus.

By Regulation (EU) No 588/2011 of 20 June 2011^f3, the Council added further names to the list of persons targeted by the asset freeze. These further names included entities.

By Decision 2011/666/CFSP, the Council has decided that a derogation from the asset freeze should be provided, in order to ensure that EU companies are not prohibited from recovering funds owed to them by the listed entities under contracts entered into prior to the listing of those entities.

This measure falls within the scope of the Treaty and regulatory action at the level of the Union is therefore necessary in order to give effect to it, in particular with a view to ensuring its uniform application by economic operators in all Member States.

Regulation (EC) No 765/2006 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION: