European Union Should Not Lift Sanctions On Burma

The European Union is currently reviewing its policy on sanctions on Burma. On 22nd April the EU Foreign Affairs Council will decide whether to continue the suspension of EU sanctions, or to lift sanctions. We are concerned that the premature lifting of European Union sanctions […]

EU: Press Burma’s President on Rights Reforms

Visiting Leader Should Endorse UN Presence, Grant Full Humanitarian Access

European Union leaders should press Burmese President Thein Sein on adopting key rights reforms during his visit this week to Brussels, Human Rights Watch said today. Thein Sein is set to meet a top-tier roster of leaders on March 5, including Martin Schulz, president of the European Parliament; José Manuel Barroso, president of the European Commission; Herman Van Rompuy, president of the European Council; Catherine Ashton, EU high representative for foreign affairs and security policy; and others […]

Statement by President Barroso Following His Meeting with Mr U Thein Sein, President of Myanmar

Good morning ladies and gentlemen, I am delighted to welcome President Thein Sein to Brussels. This is a historic visit. This is the first time a President of Myanmar visits the European Union.Our meeting takes place after my visit to Myanmar […]

EU Should Re-Introduce Visa Ban on Military

We, the undersigned members and observers of the European Burma Network, condemn the ongoing attacks on the Kachin people and call on the international community to put pressure on President Thein Sein and the Burmese Army to immediately end the military offensive in Northern Burma and allow access to humanitarian aid for internally displaced persons […]

European Parliament Urges Burma to Amend Citizenship Law and Allow Humanitarian Aid to Rakhine State

Christian Solidarity Worldwide (CSW) welcomes yesterday’s European Parliament resolution on the persecution of Rohingya Muslims in Burma, which called on the Burmese government to amend its controversial 1982 citizenship law that effectively […]

EU Moving To Reward Promises Rather Than Results

The ITUC is deeply concerned by the 15 June joint statement by EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and EU Trade Commissioner Karel De Gucht calling for the rapid reinstatement of the Generalised System of Preferences (GSP) for Myanmar […]

Empowering the Myanmar Human Rights Commission

Skepticism regarding the value of the Myanmar Human Rights Commission (MHRC) has been virtually universal—leading to tired jokes that the very term is in itself an oxymoron. A perpetual cycle of human rights violations exposed over the course of half-a-century—including systematic rape, forced labor, child soldiers, land confiscations and extrajudicial killings—has not inspired optimism that […]

Catherine Ashton Visits Burma/Myanmar to Open a New Chapter in the Relationship

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice President of the Commission, will travel to Burma/Myanmar from 28 to 30 April. She will inaugurate the Office of the European Union to Burma/Myanmar in Yangon […]

BROUK Welcomes EU-Parliament Resolution on Burma

Burmese Rohingya Organisation UK today welcomed the European Parliament resolution of 20th April 2012 calling on Burmese regime for changes to the 1982 law on citizenship to ensure due recognition of the right to citizenship of the Rohingya ethnic minority […]

EU to Suspend Majority of Sanctions for a Year

The Foreign Affairs Council of the European Union (EU) adopted Council conclusions today suspending economic sanctions against Burma for a year, with the exception of the arms embargo. In a statement released following the meeting, the Council of the EU welcomed […]