EU-Zimbabwe relations

Question for written answer  E-002099/2022
to the Council
Rule 138
Fulvio Martusciello (PPE)

The last-remaining EU restrictive measures against Zimbabwe – imposed against three individuals – have now been lifted.

Therefore, Zimbabwe as a country is no longer subject to EU restrictive measures.

Sanctions against Zimbabwe’s defence industry and the arms embargo are all that remain.

Given that:

- the Southern African Development Community encouraged Zimbabwe to intervene in Cabo Delgado;

- the international community considers the by-elections which took place on 26 March to have been democratic;

- President Macron will invite President Mnangagwa for a state visit in the coming months to demonstrate his basic commitment to lifting the embargo;

Can the Council say:

• 1.How can the deployment of Zimbabwean armed forces in the Cabo Delgado conflict be turned to account with the introduction of a customised arms control policy?
• 2.In the light of the fourth EU-Zimbabwe Political Dialogue Meeting in Harare, which began on 7 June, and other encouraging events for EU-Zimbabwe relations, what key issues need to be addressed and what needs to be done to further improve EU-Zimbabwe relations?