EU steps up sanctions against Syrian regime

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EU steps up sanctions against Syrian regime

23-04-2012

The European Union today agreed new sanctions on the Syrian regime, banning luxury goods exports and further restricting the sale of items or technology that could be used for internal repression.

Announcing the decision, agreed by EU Foreign Ministers meeting in the Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said: "We have imposed additional sanctions against the Syrian regime because of deep concern about the situation and the continuing violence, in spite of the ceasefire. The repression in Syria must stop. We are working with the international community to ensure that we enforce sanctions as effectively as possible."

This is the fourteenth time the EU imposes restrictive measures against the Syrian regime since the start of the violent repression against the civilian population.

"The EU will continue its policy of imposing additional measures targeting the regime, not the civilian population, as long as repression continues," said Conclusions agreed today by EU Foreign Ministers. "The EU will also continue to urge the international community to join its efforts, in taking steps to apply and enforce restrictive measures and sanctions on the Syrian regime and its supporters."

The Council Conclusions also welcomed the UN Security Council resolution establishing a UN supervision mission in Syria (UNSMIS) with an initial deployment of up to 300 observers to monitor the ceasefire and support all aspects of Special Envoy Kofi Annan's six point proposal.

"The EU calls for an immediate and full implementation of the UNSC resolutions. It also calls on all the Members of the UN Security Council to continue to support Kofi Annan in his efforts and ensure that the fully-fledged UN observation mission in Syria is deployed expeditiously and operationalised without delay," the Conclusions said, urging the Syrian government to allow the effective operation and deployment of the mission and allow full freedom of movement, access and communication including agreement on the use of air assets. (ENPI Info Centre)

Read more

Press release

Council Conclusions on Syria

Factsheet - The European Union and Syria (01-03-12)

European External Action Service – Frequently Asked Questions on EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime

ENPI Info Centre webpage – Syria

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