The Council of the EU prolonged by 6 months the application of EU restrictive measures targeting actions against Ukraine‘s territorial integrity, sovereignty and independence.
The asset freeze and travel bans against 149 persons and 37 entities have been extended until 15 March 2016.The assessment of the situation did not justify a change in the regime of sanctions nor in the list of persons and entities under restrictive measures.
Today the Council also adopted a positive assessment that the conditions to move to the first step of phase two on the high seas of EUNAVFOR MED have been met, the naval operation having fulfilled all military objectives related to phase 1 focusing upon the collection and analysis of information and intelligence.
This important transition will enable the EU naval operation against human smugglers and traffickers in the Mediterranean to conduct boarding, search, seizure and diversion on the high seas of vessels suspected of being used for human smuggling or trafficking, within international law.
