Council Regulation (EU) 2023/154 of 23 January 2023 amending Regulation (EC) No 147/2003 concerning certain restrictive measures in respect of Somalia

New Council Regulation (EU) 2023/154 concerning restrictive measures with respect to Somalia was published in the Official Journal (OJ) of the EU. The Regulation transposes the United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2662 which primarily „extends the scope of exemptions to the arms embargo and the related financing, financial assistance and technical assistance intended for certain recipients in Somalia“.
Specifically, the new Council Regulation modifies the existing sanctions regulation with respect to Somalia, namely Council Regulation (EC) No 147/2003, to
1. remove the permissible derogations from the arms embargo and related activities listed in Article 2a (the Article is repealed);
2. add new provisions under Article 3 for the supply of additional military goods and related activities as set out in new Annexes IV and V for the purpose of developing Somalia’s security and police institutions. The provision of such goods and services is subject to strict conditions such as a prior notification requirement to the UN Sanctions Committee and the „no-objection“ by the Committee and an after-delivery notification of the Committee by EU member states.
The new Regulation also stipulates the content of the notifications to be submitted to the UN Sanctions Committee.