18. Notes with satisfaction that government officials responsible for issuing national export licences are consulted – but should be more regularly consulted – at COARM meetings in cooperation with the Council Working Group on Human Rights (COHOM), since they can make an important contribution to implementing the Common Position and help improve the quality of the information exchanged; considers, furthermore, that consultations should extend to civil society organisations and to other stakeholders addressing the issue of arms export control;

4. Notes that the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty increased Parliament's powers, activities and legislative workload, requiring major changes to its organisation and working methods in order to build on legislative excellence and to continue the preparations for the enlargement of the Union to include Croatia; further notes that, in order to respond to the new challenges, measures were adopted to improve cost efficiency through increased productivity, staff redeployments and improved working methods;

4. Notes that the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty increased Parliament's powers, activities and legislative workload, requiring major changes to its organisation and working methods in order to build on legislative excellence and to continue the preparations for the enlargement of the Union to include Croatia; further notes that, in order to respond to the new challenges, measures were adopted to improve cost efficiency through increased productivity, staff redeployments and improved working methods;

In addition to expert groups, other structures and working methods may include e.g. Presidency conferences, meetings of Sport Ministers and Directors, Commission studies and conferences, as well as pledge boards

The restrictive measures now include visa restrictions, a freezing of assets and economic resources covering some 386 people: SPDC (State Peace and Development Council), Regional Commanders and Deputy Regional Commanders, ministers, general military officers (from Brigadier), officials responsible for managing prisons and the police, people who benefit from the Government's economic policy and managers of companies belonging to members of the armed forces and their families; prohibition of the award of loans/credits and of participation in Burmese public companies, covering 41 companies or organisations, an arms embargo and ban on expor ...[+++]ts of equipment for internal repression; the suspension of non-humanitarian aid programmes (with exceptions in key areas such as health, education and poverty reduction); diplomatic measures, which include the suspension of high-level visits to Burma/Myanmar and the withdrawal of military attachés from the embassies of EU Member States.

In addition, the Commission organised a seminar on methods of evaluating financial risk in Athens in April 2002 involving representatives of the United Kingdom and the Netherlands and Commission officials.