COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS ON ASEM AND BURMA

COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS ON ASEM AND BURMA

13 September 2004, Brussels

The Council discussed the issue of ASEM enlargement and reiterated the great importance it attaches to the relations with Asia and the ASEM process. The Council looks forward to the Summit as it allows the EU to strengthen its ties with Asia. It calls for intensifying the preparation of the Summit in close cooperation with its Asian partners, in order to ensure it full success.

At the same time, the European Union is committed to democratic change in Burma, as well as to ongoing humanitarian assistance to the people of Burma.

During his mission to Asia the Special Envoy of the Presidency Hans van den Broek conveyed this message. He learned that many of the Asian partners share the concerns that EU has on Burma, but-like the EU- attach importance to the ASEM Summit and a discussion on its enlargement.

The Council noted that the situation in Burma has not improved significantly and continues to give rise to grave concern. In particular the progress hoped for at the time of the Gymnich meeting in Tullamore in April 2004 has not happened: Daw Aung San Suu Kyi remains under house arrest, the National League for Democracy has faced continued harassment and the National Convention has not allowed genuine open debate.

The Council decided that if the Burmese Government has not fulfilled the tree conditions of the Gymnich meeting in Tullamore by the time of the ASEM Summit, it will take the following action at it subsequent session on 11 October 2004:

1. The European Union will maintain the measures under its Common Position against the military regime in Burma and those who benefit from it.

2. The European Union will tighten the existing measures against the regime and increase the support to the Burmese people, and requests the General Secretariat of the Council to prepare a revised Common Position, which in addition to the existing measures includes:

- an expansion of the visa ban list to include serving members of the military of the rank of Brigadier-General and above and members of the families, and implementing it by having visa applications to sign a separate statement that they do not belong to the above-mentioned group;
- prohibiting EU registered companies or organisations from making financing such as loans and equities available to named Burmese State-owned enterprises.

3. Also, EU member states shall vote against extending loans to Burma from financial institutions.

4. In addition, the Commission is requested to produce specific proposals to address the issue of Burmese illegal logging, including opportunities for decreasing deforestation in and export of teak from Burma.

5. Furthermore, the EU will then expand assistance to the people of Burma in the areas of health and education, defined in consultation with democratic groups, including the National League for Democracy, and managed through the UN system or non-governmental organisations.

The Council underlined that Summit will provide the EU with an opportunity to confront Burma with its concerns on human rights and the need for democratic reforms. The Council expects the level of Burmese participation at the Summit to be lower than at the level of Head of State/Government.

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