The European Council today added the Hezbollah Military Wing to its list of entities, groups and individuals involved in terrorist acts, as agreed at the Foreign Affairs Council on 22 July.

Those on the list are targeted with an asset freeze in the EU. In addition, member states have committed to enhanced police and judicial cooperation in related enquiries and proceedings. Today's decision brings the number of groups and entities subject to these restrictions to 26 while 11 persons remain on the list.

The legal acts were adopted by written procedure today and will be published in EU Official Journal on Friday.

According to information obtained by MTV, a list of names will be released by the EU, including those who were accused by the Special Tribunal for Lebanon to be involved in the assassination of former PM Rafik Hariri.

The list will also include names of other Hezbollah militants who carried out security operations in several Arab countries (such as Ali Dakdouk in Iraq) and members belonging to the cell which was discovered in Egypt's Sinai Peninsula smuggling weapons to the Gaza Strip under the leadership of Sami Chehab.

The EU will also enlist the names of high-ranking security figureheads who are deemed as the founders of Hezbollah.

The Council and the Commission underlined that the decision to designate the Hezbollah Military Wing under Common Position 2001/931/CFSP on the application of restrictive measures to combat terrorism does not prevent the continuation of dialogue with all political parties in Lebanon. In addition, the Council and the Commission agreed that the decision does not affect legitimate financial transfers to Lebanon and the delivery of assistance, including humanitarian assistance, from the European Union and its Member States in Lebanon.