Myanmar (Burma)

The prime goal of the EU is to see a legitimate, democratically elected civilian government established in Myanmar (Burma) - a government which pursues social and economic development and respects human rights while rebuilding relations with the international community.

Currently, bilateral relations are framed by the “ EU Common Position”.

The EU’s balanced policy vis-à-vis Myanmar includes significant assistance to the people of the country and some restrictive measures. The latter express the EU’s critical views about the absence of tangible progress with regard to the respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms. The measures attempt to avoid hitting vulnerable sections of the population. With an inevitably longer term perspective to the political process, the EU pays attention to the development of civil society and to reducing its isolation, and to progressing on the Millennium Development Goals. Contacts with the government – in the framework of the ASEM process and of EU-ASEAN meetings – are regularly used to raise the Union’s concerns.