Sanctions against Burma (Myanmar)
Background to the sanctions
Beginning in October 1996, the EU has introduced several types of sanctions against Burma and its leadership due to serious shortcomings with regard to democracy and human rights. The aim of these sanctions is to increase the pressure on the country´s military regime to meet the requirements of the international community in these areas. They also target persons, companies and industrial sectors that directly or indirectly provide support for the regime through their activities.
The scope of the sanctions has successively been expanded due to the lack of progress on issues such as democratisation and the continued or intensified violations of human rights by the regime. The measures have therefore been extended, revised or expanded on several occasions. In view of the fact that the country has taken certain steps towards nominal civilian governance, some minor adjustments were made to the sanctions in connection with their extension in April 2011.
