The Council of the European Union adopted on 23 March 2011 legislation in order to implement United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 which broadened the scope of the restrictive measures against Libya imposed by previous Resolution 1970 and introduced further measures. The assets freeze is extended to new entities, including the National Oil Corporation and also to five subsidiaries of the NOC designated autonomously by the EU.

The new Council Decision 2011/178/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, amends previous Council Decision in order to prevent all flights in the air-space of Libya and strengthen the enforcement of the arms embargo. It also bans Libyan aircraft from EU Member States' airspace as well as any aircraft it has reason to believe is carrying prohibited items, including armed mercenary personnel.

The visa ban and the assets freeze imposed under Decision 2011/137/CFSP are extended to include the additional persons listed in United Nations Security Council Resolution 1973 deemed to be involved in or complicit in serious human rights abuses that violate international law, including those resulting from aerial bombardments or other attacks on civilian populations and facilities. The Council also adopted a regulation implementing Regulation 204/2011 to take account of new UN and EU autonomous designations for the assets freeze.

The legislation, which includes Decision amending Council Decision 2011/137/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, and the regulation implementing Article 16(1) and (2) of Council Regulation (EU) 204/2011 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Libya, was adopted by written procedure and was published by the the Official Journal of the European Union on 24 March 2011. These restrictive measures are to be kept under constant review.