On 11 December 2017, the Council extended its current sanctions regime against the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) until 12 December 2018. These sanctions were adopted in response to the obstruction of the electoral process and the related human rights violations in DRC (See Council (CFSP) Decision 2017/2282). EU Candidate Countries Macedonia, Montenegro and Albania, potential candidate Bosnia and Herzegovina, European Free Trade Association (EFTA) countries Iceland and Liechtenstein, as well as Moldova and Armenia, aligned themselves with the Council decision (See Council Statement).