Burma: Sanctions

Mr. Keith Simpson
To ask the Secretary of State for Foreign and Commonwealth Affairs what discussions he has had with his EU counterparts on the introduction of financial sanctions against companies associated with Burma’s military regime.

Dr. Howells
Discussions are ongoing, mainly at senior official level.

The EU listed companies with links to the military regime in its new package of measures agreed in October 2007.

EU member states are currently considering further restrictive measures against Burma, including a possible ban on all new investment and the imposition of restrictions on financial measures.

The UK is actively working with our EU partners to ensure a full discussion of further restrictive measures as agreed at the October 2007 General Affairs and External Relations Council.