Introduction

Burma/Myanmar, independent since 1948, has been under military rule since 1962. In 1988, pro-democracy protests were brutally crushed by the military. In 1990 national elections were held in Burma for the first time in 30 years. The NLD as the main political movement under the leadership of Mrs Aung San Suu Kyi (in 1991 laureate of the Nobel Peace Prize) won 82% of the seats in the National Assembly. However, the results of the elections were never recognized by the military regime which maintained power. The population lives under continued political suppression, aggravated by economic hardship that leaves more than half living below the poverty line. At present, Burma/Myanmar does not have a constitution or parliament.

In 2003, the military regime presented a seven-step ‘roadmap’ for constitutional and political reform towards a 'disciplined democracy' in Burma/Myanmar. In 2004, the first step was launched with the reconvening of the National Convention to deliberate on basic principles for a new constitution. In December 2007, the process of constitution drafting based on those basic principles began. The NLD are not participating in the constitution drafting process and the roadmap has come under criticism for being un-inclusive and lacking credibility. The regime has announced that the National Referendum on the new Constitution will take place in May 2008 followed by the country's next elections in 2010.

The main goal of the European Union is to see a legitimate civilian government established which respects human rights and fundamental freedoms, effectively pursues the achievement of the Millennium Development Goals and restores normal and productive relations with the international community.

The EU Common Position

EU relations with Burma/Myanmar are governed in conformity with a series of restrictive measures towards the country known as the 'Common Position'.

First adopted in 1996, the Common Position has been strengthened and extended several times in view of the military regime’s failure to make significant progress in areas of EU concern.

Amongst the measures included in the Common Position are an arms embargo, an export ban from the EU of any equipment that might be used for internal repression, a visa ban and a freeze on funds held abroad by key regime figures and their families, a prohibition for EU companies to invest in state-owned enterprises as well as the suspension of high-level governmental visits to Burma/Myanmar.

The Common Position was further strengthened in 2007 following the authorities' violent crackdown on demonstrators to include a prohibition on EU companies investing in the logging, mining and gemstone industries as well as a ban on the export of these products to the Union.

Complete details of the Common Position can be found at http://ec.europa.eu/external_relations/myanmar/intro/index.htm  

Until 2004, European Union assistance to Burma/Myanmar was limited by the Common Position to humanitarian aid. Since then this essentially punitive approach has become more balanced by opening the possibility for a more systematic approach to assistance while continuing to invoke the government’s responsibility to attain the UN Millennium Development Goals. Political contacts with the Myanmar government – in the framework of the ASEM process and of EU-ASEAN meetings – are regularly used to raise the Union’s concerns.

The EU Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar

On 6 November 2007, Javier Solana, EU High Representative for the Common Foreign and Security Policy appointed Piero Fassino as EU Special Envoy for Burma/Myanmar.

Pierro Fassino, an MP and former Italian Minister of Justice, will coordinate the European Union's efforts to bring about positive change in Burma/Myanmar. This appointment underlines the importance that the EU attaches to democratic change, reconciliation, the improvement of the human rights situation and development in Burma/Myanmar. Mr Fassino will work in close coordination with Ibrahim Gambari, Special Adviser to the UN Secretary-General on Myanmar.