> “The continued massive use of force by the Syrian Government leaves the European Union no choice but to go ahead with targeted sanctions against the regime.

> The situation in Daraa, a city all but cut off from the outside world and from supplies of food, electricity and water, where civilians are being shot and large numbers of them arrested, leaves no doubt about the brutality of the regime and its unwillingness to compromise.

> Europe’s response must now include sanctions. The German Government is therefore driving forward the concrete preparation of targeted sanctions against the Syrian regime as discussed in Brussels today.”