Council eases sanctions against Syria to support opposition and civilians

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Luxembourg, 22 April 2013

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(OR. en)

PRESSE 155

EN

Council eases sanctions against Syria to support opposition

and civilians

The Council today eased certain EU sanctions against Syria, including the oil embargo, so

as to help the civilian population and support the opposition in that country.

Competent authorities in EU member states can now authorise three types of transactions:

imports of oil and petroleum products, including related finance and insurance; exports of

key equipment and technology for the oil and gas industry to Syria, also including related

finance and insurance; as well as investments in the Syrian oil industry.

Before approving any such transaction, competent authorities will consult with the Syrian

National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces and ensure that the

transactions do not circumvent EU sanctions against Syria, in particular the asset freezes

on those associated with the violent repression in Syria.

Today's decision comes in the wake of the Council's announcement that it would "assess

and review, if necessary, the sanctions regime against Syria in order to support and help

the opposition" (see Council conclusions).

The EU import ban on Syrian oil and petroleum products was imposed in September 2011.

For more details about EU positions on the Syrian crisis, assistance to civilians and

refugees and sanctions against the Syrian regime, see factsheet European Union and Syria.

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بيان صحفي من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي يعلن تخفيف بعض العقوبات على سورية، ومنها حظر النفط، لمساعدة المدنيين ودعم المعارضة عبر السماح باستيراد النفط وتصدير معدات القطاع النفطي والاستثمار فيه.