Date of release : 13-06-2005

Policy area : General Affairs and External Relations

Event : General Affairs and External Relations Council

At the conclusion of the first working meeting of the "General Affairs and External Relations" Council, held on 13 June in Luxembourg, Jean Asselborn, Minister for Foreign Affairs and current President of the Council of the European Union, stated that "the European Union extended the list of members of the Zimbabwean regime covered by sanctions (visas and freezing of assets).

The European Union condemns the expulsions and forced movements of hundreds of thousands of citizens recently carried out by the Government of  Zimbabwe, the arbitrary destruction of their homes and their means of subsistence, as well as the flagrant disregard for the well-being of the civilian population, particularly in the urban areas, whilst the inhabitants of Zimbabwe are already suffering from food restrictions and the country is beset with a serious economic crisis.

The European Union is asking the Government of Zimbabwe to immediately end these actions."