EU restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

 

SUMMARY OF:

Decision 2013/255/CFSP – restrictive measures against Syria

Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 – restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE DECISION AND THE REGULATION?

The decision and the regulation are part of the European Union’s (EU) common foreign and security policy (CFSP) toolbox, promoting the CFSP objectives by providing the legal basis for EU sanctions in view of the situation in Syria.

Both legal acts have been amended on several occasions.

KEY POINTS

Restrictions on trade in goods, services and technology

The sanctions include restrictions on trade with the EU in items that might be used directly or indirectly for the internal repression of the Syrian people. They include:

• a ban on the import of arms and related material from Syria;
• export restrictions on certain equipment, goods and technology that might be used for internal repression or for the manufacture or maintenance of such products;
• a requirement for EU Member States to inspect vessels and aircraft if there are reasonable grounds to believe they carry arms, related material or equipment that might be used for internal repression;
• an export ban on equipment, technology or software primarily intended for the monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications;
• a prohibition on Syrian financial institutions opening new branches or subsidiaries in the EU or establishing new joint ventures or new correspondent banking relationships with EU banks;
• an import ban on crude oil and petroleum products from Syria and on any financing, insurance or reinsurance in their regard;
• a ban on investment in the Syrian oil industry;
• a ban on investment in companies engaged in the construction of new power plants for electricity production in Syria;
• a ban on trade in goods belonging to Syria’s cultural heritage that have been illegally removed from Syria with the objective of facilitating the safe return of those goods;
• a ban on trade in gold, precious metals and diamonds with Syrian public bodies and the central bank.

Asset freezing and travel bans

The sanctions also target individuals and companies responsible for the violent repression of the Syrian people, along with those supporting or benefiting the regime and individuals and companies associated with them. In particular, the decision and the regulation impose the following restrictions.

• A freezing of the assets of and travel bans for over 350 individuals and at least 90 entities. Funds or economic resources otherwise frozen may be released under certain conditions, including:
  • to make payments on behalf of Syria to the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), for activities related to the organisation’s verification mission and the destruction of Syrian chemical weapons;
  • for evacuations from Syria;
  • for humanitarian purposes.
• A freezing of the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU, with a ban on making funds or economic resources available but an allowance for legitimate trade to continue under strict conditions.

The Annex to Decision 2013/255/CFSP contains a regularly amended list of the individuals and companies covered by these measures.

EU strategy for Syria

In 2017, when adopting the EU strategy for Syria, the Council of the European Union stated that it would continue to consider further restrictive measures targeting Syrian individuals and entities supporting the regime as long as the repression continues. The strategy focuses on six key areas:

• an end to the war through a genuine political transition;
• promoting a meaningful and inclusive transition in Syria;
• saving lives by addressing the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable Syrians across the country in a timely, effective, efficient and principled manner;
• promoting democracy, human rights and freedom of speech by strengthening Syrian civil society organisations;
• promoting accountability for war crimes with a view to facilitating a national reconciliation process and transitional justice;
• supporting the resilience of the Syrian population and Syrian society.

Amendments to the decision and to the regulation in view of the February 2023 earthquake

The EU legislation with regard to sanctions in view of the situation in Syria does not forbid the export of food, medicines or medical equipment to Syria or the targeting of Syria’s healthcare system, and it includes a wide-ranging humanitarian exception to ensure the continued provision of humanitarian assistance to any part of the country. In February 2023, following a powerful earthquake that exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, the Council adopted amendments to Decision 2013/255/CFSP and to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 to ensure that assistance to the civilian population of Syria would be delivered rapidly. This involved waiving the requirement for humanitarian organisations to seek prior permission from Member States’ competent authorities to make transfers or provide goods and services intended for humanitarian purposes to listed persons and entities. Initially adopted for a period of 6 months, the exemption has been extended several times, most recently by amending Regulation (EU) 2023/2877 and Decision (CFSP) 2023/2876, which prolonged it to 1 June 2024.

FROM WHEN DO THE DECISION AND THE REGULATION APPLY?

• The decision has applied since 1 June 2013.
• The regulation has applied since 19 January 2012. It repeals Regulation (EU) No 442/2011.

BACKGROUND

In December 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2254 on the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. The EU remains committed to finding a lasting and credible political solution to the situation in the country on the basis of this resolution and of the 2012 Geneva communiqué.

For more information, see:

• Syria: EU response to the crisis (Council of the European Union)
• The European Union and Syria (European External Action Service).

MAIN DOCUMENTS

Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures against Syria (OJ L 147, 1.6.2013, pp. 14–45).

Successive amendments to Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 of 18 January 2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 (OJ L 16, 19.1.2012, pp. 1–32).

See consolidated version.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council – Elements for an EU Strategy for Syria (JOIN(2017) 11 final, 14.3.2017).

Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Part Five – The Union’s external action – Title IV – Restrictive measures – Article 215 (ex Article 301 TEC) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 144).

last update 13.09.2024