Council takes steps to limit arms deliveries to Syria

EN

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 23 July 2012

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PRESSE 344

Council takes steps to limit arms deliveries to Syria

In response to the ever increasing violence in Syria, the Council today strengthened the

enforcement of the EU arms embargo against Syria.

EU countries will be obliged to inspect vessels and aircraft heading to Syria if they suspect

the cargo contains arms or equipment for internal repression. This obligation applies in

member states' seaports and airports as well as in their territorial sea, in accordance with

international law. Items that may not be exported to Syria under EU law must be seized. In

addition, aircraft and vessels heading to Syria will have to provide additional pre-arrival

and pre-departure information on their cargo.

EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Catherine Ashton said: I

am deeply concerned at the escalating violence and its tragic consequences for the Syrian

population. The EU has warned against a further militarisation of the conflict. Today we

are taking practical steps towards limiting the supplies that fuel the fighting."

The EU embargo on exporting arms and equipment for internal repression to Syria has

been in force since May 2011. It is also prohibited to provide grants, loans, export credit

insurance, technical assistance, insurance and reinsurance for exports of arms and of

equipment for internal repression to Syria.

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The Council today also froze the assets of three entities supporting the regime. It also

targeted 26 persons responsible for the violent repression with a travel ban and an asset

freeze. This brings the total number of persons subject to sanctions to 155 whereas 52

entities are now affected by an EU asset freeze.

The Council also approved an exemption to the existing EU asset freeze: Member states

may authorise payments through banks subject to sanctions if the transfers constitute

financial support to Syrian students or researchers in the EU.

This is the seventeenth round of EU sanctions against the Syrian regime since the outbreak

of the violent repression. Today's decisions, including the list of additional designations,

will be published in the EU Official Journal of 24 July 2012.

See also: Council conclusions on Syria

For more information about EU restrictive measures against the Syria regime, see factsheet

European Union and Syria.

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بيان صحفي من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي يعلن إلزام الدول الأعضاء بتفتيش السفن والطائرات المتجهة إلى سورية المشتبه في حملها أسلحة، وإضافة 26 شخصًا وثلاثة كيانات إلى العقوبات.