On June 21, 2021, the Council of the European Union imposed sanctions on eight individuals and four entities in Myanmar, adding to restrictive measures taken following the February 2021 military coup in that country. Among the eight newly sanctioned individuals are government ministers and the attorney general; the entities sanctioned are state-owned organizations that contribute profits from Myanmar’s valuable natural resources to military enterprises. With the new designations, the European Union’s Myanmar sanctions regime now targets 43 individuals and six entities, and includes an arms embargo, export and travel restrictions, and the withholding of financial assistance (aside from humanitarian aid).
In a parallel action, the United Kingdom added designations to the UK Myanmar (Sanctions) Regulations 2021 (S.I. 2021/496), which allow for the freezing of economic resources, and target entities and individuals for their repression of the civilian population, the commission of serious human rights violations, and the obstruction of humanitarian aid, and actions that threaten the peace, stability and security of the people of Myanmar. Like those of the EU, the UK’s new sanctions target state-owned gem and timber enterprises, as well as entities with military affiliations.