The Foreign Affairs Council welcomed the changes in Burma/Myanmar and therefore, in order to encourage the reform process, has decided to suspend restrictive measures imposed on the Government with the exception of the arms embargo. In a resolution adopted in last plenary session, the European Parliament called on Member States to suspend those restrictive measures.

The restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar will be suspended except the arms embargo according to the agreement reached at the Foreign Affairs Council meeting. This decision follows the adoption by the European Parliament on 20 of April of a resolution in which MEPs called on the Council to suspend EU restrictive measures against Burma/Myanmar, except the arms embargo. The resolution asked to suspend the restrictive measures for an initial period of one year, during which political and economic reform in the country should be closely monitored. The Council announced this resolution in February 2012.

The Council also announced that the EU wants now to enter into an active collaboration with Myanmar/Burma as a whole, with a view to assisting the reform process and contributing to economic, political and social development. The EU will thus continue to engage in a dialogue and cooperation with the authorities and other stakeholders, according the ministers.

Parliament as well the Council have also called on the Burma/Myanmar government to release all remaining political prisoners unconditionally and without delay, and to allow international human rights bodies free access to Myanmar’s prisons.