EU Amends Haiti Sanctions Regime to Allow for Autonomous Restrictions

The European Council in a July 28 move amended its Haiti sanctions regime to allow the EU to "autonomously impose restrictive measures" on individuals and entities that undermine democracy in the Caribbean nation. While no parties were sanctioned under the council's announcement, the decision complements sanctions the U.N. Security Council imposed in October, the council said. The move comes in response to the "high levels of gang violence and other criminal activities, sexual and gender-based violence, embezzlement of public funds, ongoing impunity for perpetrators," and the "dire humanitarian situation" in Haiti.