THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to Council Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 of 7 December 2020 concerning restrictive measures against serious human rights violations and abuses ( 1 ), and in particular Article 14(1) thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1) On 7 December 2020, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.

(2) On 8 December 2020, by way of the Declaration by the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy (the ‘High Representative’), on behalf of the European Union, regarding the EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime, the Union and its Member States reaffirmed their strong commitment to the promotion and protection of human rights around the world. The EU Global Human Rights Sanctions Regime underscores the Union’s determination to enhance its role in addressing serious human rights violations and abuses worldwide. Realising the effective enjoyment of human rights for every person is a strategic goal of the Union. Respect for human dignity, freedom, democracy, equality, the rule of law and human rights is a fundamental value of the Union and its common foreign and security policy.

(3) The Union is concerned about transnational repression by Iranian state bodies through the ongoing use of proxy agents, in particular involving criminals and organised crime networks targeting dissidents and human rights defenders across the world, including on Union territory. Those criminals and organised criminal networks have been responsible for serious human rights violations or abuses such as extrajudicial, summary and arbitrary killings as well as enforced disappearances of persons critical of the actions or policies of the Islamic Republic of Iran, or of persons deemed to be opponents of the Islamic Republic of Iran.

(4) In that context, eight persons and one entity should be added to the list of natural and legal persons, entities and bodies set out in Annex I to Regulation (EU) 2020/1998.

(5) Regulation (EU) 2020/1998 should therefore be amended accordingly,

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