Foreign & Commonwealth Office London Latest News April 30, 1999

EU Oil Embargo Against Yugoslavia

Foreign Office Minister Tony Lloyd today announced details of the EU ban on the sale or supply of petroleum and petroleum products to the Federal Republic of Yugoslavia.

In response to a Parliamentary Question, Mr. Lloyd explained that the ban would come into force on 1 May. He also explained that the ban prohibits:

a) the sale, supply or export, directly or indirectly, of certain petroleum and petroleum products listed in an Annex to the Regulation, whether or not originating in the Community, to any person or body in the FRY or to any person or body for the purpose of any business carried on in, or operated from the territory of the FRY;

b) the shipping of such products to the territory of the FRY;

c) participation in related activities the object or the effect of which is to promote the transactions or activities referred to under a).

The ban allows for exemptions, under certain conditions, for the sale, supply or export of petroleum and petroleum products for the use of diplomatic and consular missions of EU Member States; for the use of a future international military presence; and for humanitarian purposes.

The ban applies within the territory of the Community, including its air space and on board any aircraft or any vessel under the jurisdiction of a Member State and to any person elsewhere who is a national of a Member State and any body which is incorporated or constituted under the law of a Member State.

Legislation introducing licensing and enforcement provisions, including penalties, will come into force the same day.

NOTES FOR EDITORS

1. The announcement was made in a written reply to a Parliamentary Question from Alan Johnson MP.

2. The Council of the EU adopted a Common Position (99/27/CFSP) concerning a ban on the sale or supply of petroleum and petroleum products on 23 April. The EC Regulation giving effect to the ban was adopted on 29 April. The ban will come into force on 1 May, the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Communities.