Council Implementing Regulation (EU) 2023/1027 of 25 May 2023 implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

EN

26.5.2023

Official Journal of the European Union

L 139/1

II

(Non-legislative acts)

REGULATIONS

COUNCIL IMPLEMENTING REGULATION (EU) 2023/1027

of 25 May 2023

implementing Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation

in Syria

THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,

Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union,

Having regard to 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 (1), and in particular Article 32 thereof,

Having regard to the proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Whereas:

(1)

On 18 January 2012, the Council adopted Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of

the situation in Syria.

(2)

On the basis of a review of those measures, the entries for two deceased individuals should be deleted from the list of

natural and legal persons, entities or bodies set out in Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012. The entries for 19

natural persons in that list should be updated and amended.

(3)

Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly,

HAS ADOPTED THIS REGULATION:

Article 1

Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 is amended in accordance with the Annex to this Regulation.

Article 2

This Regulation shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.

(1) OJ L 16, 19.1.2012, p. 1.

L 139/2

EN

Official Journal of the European Union

26.5.2023

This Regulation shall be binding in its entirety and directly applicable in all Member States.

Done at Brussels, 25 May 2023.

For the Council

The President

J. FORSSELL

26.5.2023

ANNEX

Annex II to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 is amended as follows:

EN

(1) in section ‘A (Persons)’, the following two entries are deleted:

122. Dr Fayssal ABBAS;

161. Dr Mohamad Zafer MOHABAK;

Name

‘5.

Hafiz ( ) MAKHLOUF (

Identifying information

Date of birth: 2.4.1971;

)

(a.k.a. Hafez Makhlouf)

Place of birth: Damascus, Syria;

Reasons

Date of listing

Former Colonel and Head of Unit in General Intelligence Directorate, Damascus Branch

in post after May 2011. Member of the Makhlouf family; cousin of President Bashar

al-Assad.

9.5.2011

Leading businessman operating in Syria with interests in the financial services, transport

and property sectors. He has financial interests in and/or holds senior and executive

positions in the investment funds Al Mashreq, Bena Properties and Cham Holding.

9.5.2011

Diplomatic passport

No 014637352;

Gender: male

8.

Rami (

) MAKHLOUF (

)

Date of birth: 10.7.1969;

Place of birth: Damascus, Syria;

Passport No 000098044;

Issue No 002-03-0015187;

Gender: male

12.

Ghazwan Rifaat Kheir BEK

(a.k.a. Ghazqan Kheir Bek)

Date of birth: 10.3.1961;

He furnishes financing and support to the Syrian regime, through his business interests.

He is an influential member of the Makhlouf family and closely connected to the Assad

family; cousin of President Bashar Al-Assad.

Former Minister of Transport in power after May 2011 (appointed 27.8.2014). He was

previously General Director of the Port of Tartous. As a former Government Minister,

Place of birth: Al-Shamiyah, Latakia,

shares responsibility for the Syrian regime’s violent repression of the civilian population.

Syria;

Gender: male

21.10.2014

L 139/3

ID Number: 06010037444;

Official Journal of the European Union

(2) in section ‘A (Persons)’, entries 5, 8, 12, 50, 51, 74, 107, 119, 120, 121, 192, 271, 284, 285, 290, 291, 324, 325, and 326 are replaced by the following:

50.

Identifying information

Tarif ( ) AKHRAS (

(a.k.a. Al Akhras (

)

Date of birth: 2.6.1951;

))

Place of birth: Homs, Syria;

Gender: male

51.

Issam ( ) ANBOUBA (

)

President of Anbouba for

Agricultural Industries Co.;

Date of birth: 1952;

Date of listing

Leading businessperson operating in Syria. He is the founder of the Akhras Group

(commodities, trading, processing and logistics) and former Chairman of the Homs

Chamber of Commerce. Close business relations with President Bashar al-Assad’s family.

Former member of the Board of the Federation of Syrian Chambers of Commerce.

Provided logistical support for the regime (buses and tank loaders). He is therefore

benefiting from and supporting the Syrian regime.

2.9.2011

Leading businessperson active in different sectors of the Syrian economy, such as

agriculture, real estate and banking. Financial relations with high-ranking Syrian officials.

Co-founder of Cham Holding.

2.9.2011

Former Minister of Housing and Urban Development (appointed 27.8.2014). As a

former Government Minister, shares responsibility for the Syrian regime’s violent

repression of the civilian population.

21.10.2014

Former Minister of the Interior. As a former Government Minister, shares responsibility

for the Syrian regime’s violent repression of the civilian population. Vice Chair of the

National Progressive Front of Syria.

1.12.2011

Former Minister of Oil and Mineral Resources. Associated with the Syrian regime and its

violent repression of the civilian population.

27.2.2012

EN

Syrian passport No 0000092405;

Reasons

L 139/4

Name

Place of birth: Homs, Syria;

74.

Mohammad Walid GHAZAL

Date of birth: 1.11.1951;

Place of birth: Aleppo, Syria;

Syrian National ID Number:

02020332623;

Gender: male

107. Mohammad Ibrahim AL-SHA’AR

Date of birth: 1.10.1956;

Place of birth: Al-Haffah, Latakia,

Syria;

Official Journal of the European Union

Gender: male

Gender: male

119. Sufian (

) ALLAW (

)

Date of birth: 8.2.1944;

Place of birth: al-Bukamal, Deir

Ezzor, Syria;

Gender: male

26.5.2023

120. Dr Adnan (

) SLAKHO (

Identifying information

)

Date of birth: 7.9.1955;

Place of birth: Al-Malihah, Rif

Dimashq, Syria;

Date of listing

Former Minister of Industry. Former Minister of Education and current business

development consultant in the Ministry of Local Administration. Associated with the

Syrian regime and its violent repression of the civilian population.

27.2.2012

Former Minister of Education and current Head of the International Relations

Department at the Faculty of International Relations and Diplomacy at Al-Sham Private

University. Associated with the Syrian regime and its violent repression of the civilian

population.

27.2.2012

Leading businessperson operating in Syria, with interests and/or activities in multiple

sectors of Syria’s economy. He holds interests in and/or has significant influence in

Anwar Akkad Sons Group (AASG) and its subsidiary United Oil. AASG is a conglomerate

with interests in sectors such as oil, gas, chemicals, insurance, industrial machinery, real

estate, tourism, exhibitions, contracting, insurance and medical equipment. He is also a

co-founder of a leading security firm (ProGuard).

23.7.2014

EN

Reasons

Gender: male

121. Dr Saleh (

) AL-RASHED (

)

Date of birth: 1.8.1964;

Place of birth: Aleppo Province,

Syria;

26.5.2023

Name

Gender: male

(a.k.a. Hashem Aqqad, Hashem

Akkad, Hashim Akkad)

Date of birth: 8.8.1961;

Place of birth: Damascus, Syria;

Syrian National ID Number:

01020018085;

Gender: male

Hashim Anwar al-Aqqad also worked as a member of the Syrian Parliament as recently as

2012.

Hashim Anwar Al-Aqqad could not have remained successful without assistance from

the regime. Given the extent of his business and political ties to the regime, he provides

support to and benefits from the Syrian regime.

Official Journal of the European Union

192. Hashim Anwar AL-AQQAD

L 139/5

271. Khaled AL-ZUBAIDI

(a.k.a. (Mohammed) Khaled/Khalid

(Bassam) (al-) Zubaidi/Zubedi)

Reasons

Leading businessperson operating in Syria, with significant investments in the

construction industry, including a 50 % stake in Zubaidi and Qalei LLC, which is

Position: Co-owner of Zubaidi and

constructing the luxury tourist city Grand Town and to which the regime has granted

Qalei LLC; Director of Agar

a 45-year agreement in return for 19-21 % of its revenue. Khaled al-Zubaidi benefits

Investment Company; General

from and/or supports the Syrian regime through his business activities, in particular

Manager of Al Zubaidi company and

through this stake in the Grand Town development.

Al Zubaidi & Al Taweet Contracting

Company; Director and Owner of Khaled al-Zubaidi signed a (350 000 USD worth) sponsorship with a Syrian football club

“Wihda FC” through one of his companies “Hijaz Company”. Member of the Federation

Zubaidi Development Company;

of Syrian Chambers of Tourism since 2019. President of the Syrian-Algerian Business

co-owner of Enjaz Investment

Council.

Company;

Nationality: Syrian;

Date of listing

21.1.2019

EN

(‫)ﺧﺎﻟﺪ ﺍﻟﺰﺑﻴﺪﻱ‬

Identifying information

L 139/6

Name

Gender: male

(a.k.a.

(‫)ﻣﺎﺯﻥ ﺍﻟﺘﺮﺯﻱ‬

Date of birth: September 1962;

; Mazen al-Tarazi) Nationality: Syrian;

Position: Businessperson;

Gender: male

Leading businessperson operating in Syria, with significant investments in the

construction and aviation sectors. Through his investments and activities, Mazin

al-Tarazi benefits from and/or supports the Syrian regime. In particular, Mazin al-Tarazi

has concluded a deal with Damascus Cham Holding for a USD 320 million investment in

the construction of Marota City, a regime-backed luxury residential and commercial

development. He has also been granted a licence for a private airline in Syria. In

September 2019, he created “al-Dana Group Investments LLC”, a 25 million SYP

company involved in export-import and investing in tourism facilities and commercial

complexes. Mazin Al-Tarazi is a member of the Syrian-Iranian Business Council (SIBC)

and served as an intermediary for the Iranian regime to purchase real estate in Syria.

21.1.2019

Official Journal of the European Union

284. Mazin AL-TARAZI

26.5.2023

285. Samer FOZ

(a.k.a. Samir Foz/Fawz; Samer

Zuhair Foz; Samer Foz bin Zuhair)

Date of birth: 20.5.1973;

Place of birth: Homs, Syria;

Nationalities: Syrian, Turkish;

Turkish Passport number: U

09471711 (place of issue Turkey;

expiry date 21.7.2024);

Reasons

Date of listing

Leading businessperson operating in Syria, with interests and activities in multiple

sectors of Syria’s economy. Samer Foz provides financial and other support to the Syrian

regime, including funding the Military Security Shield Forces in Syria and brokering grain

deals. He also benefits financially from access to commercial opportunities through the

wheat trade and reconstruction projects as a result of his links to the regime.

21.1.2019

EN

(‫)ﺳﺎﻣﺮ ﻓﻮﺯ‬

Identifying information

26.5.2023

Name

Samer Foz opened a sugar refining factory (“Samer Foz Factory”) in 2021 in support of

the Syrian regime’s objective to increase sugar production across the country.

Syrian national number:

06010274705;

Gender: male

290. Waseem AL-KATTAN

(‫)ﻭﺳﻴﻢ ﺍﻟﻘﻄﺎﻥ‬

Date of birth: 4.3.1976;

Nationality: Syrian;

(a.k.a. Waseem, Wasseem, Wassim, Syrian National ID Number:

Wasim; Anouar; al-Kattan, al-Katan, 10090110187

al-Qattan, al-Qatan;

Position: President of Damascus

‫ ﻭﺳﻴﻢ ﺃﻧﻮﺍﺭ ﺍﻟﻘﻄﺎﻥ‬,‫)ﻭﺳﻴﻢ ﻗﻄﺎﻥ‬

Countryside (Rural) Province

Chamber of Commerce;

Leading businessperson operating in Syria benefiting from and supporting the regime.

Owner of multiple businesses and holding companies with interests and activities in

various economic sectors such as real estate, the luxury hotel industry and commercial

centres. Waseem al-Kattan rose rapidly as a leading businessperson by imposing taxes on

goods smuggled into Eastern Ghouta under siege, and is now involved in aggressive

forms of clientelism to the benefit of the regime. Waseem al-Kattan benefits financially

from favoured access to public tenders as well as to licences and contracts awarded by

government agencies as a result of his close ties to the regime.

In 2020, Al-Kattan was elected member of the Damascus Chamber of Commerce. In

Relatives/business associates/entities November 2021, Al-Kattan was appointed secretary of the Federation of Syrian

or partners/links:

chambers of commerce by the Syrian Government, despite having lost elections. In

17.2.2020

Official Journal of the European Union

Address: Platinum Tower, office

No 2405, Jumeirah Lake Towers,

Dubai, UAE;

2022, Al-Kattan was appointed Chairman of the Syrian-Omani Business Council.

Larosa Furniture/Furnishing;

Jasmine Fields Company Ltd.; Muruj

Cham (Murooj al-Cham) Investment

and Tourism Group; Adam and

Investment LLC; Universal Market

Company LLC; Treasurer of the

Federation of Syrian Chambers of

Commerce;

Gender: male

L 139/7

291. Amer FOZ

Identifying information

Date of birth: 11.3.1976;

Place of birth: Homs, Syria;

(‫)ﻋﺎﻣﺮ ﻓﻮﺯ‬

Nationality: Syrian; Saint Kitts and

Nevis;

National no: 06010274747;

Passport no: 002-14-L169340

UAE resident card:

784-1976-7135283-5

17.2.2020

He is also associated with his brother Samer Foz, who has been designated by the Council

since January 2019 as a leading businessperson operating in Syria and for supporting or

benefiting from the regime. Together with his brother, he implements a number of

commercial projects, notably in the Adra al-Ummaliyya area (Damascus suburbs). These

projects include a factory that manufactures cables and cable accessories as well as a

project to produce electricity using solar power. They also engaged in various activities

with ISIL (Da’esh) on behalf of the Assad regime, including the provision of weapons and

ammunitions in exchange for wheat and oil.

Relatives/business associates/entities

or partners/links: Samer Foz; Vice

Chairman of Asas Steel Company;

Aman Holding;

Gender: male

324. Ahmed KHALIL KHALIL

(a.k.a. Ahmed KHALIL, Ahmad

Khalil Khalil)

(‫)ﺍﺣﻤﺪ ﺧﻠﻴﻞ ﺧﻠﻴﻞ‬

Date of birth: 1969;

Place of birth: Qayrun;

Gender: male

Ahmed Khalil Khalil is the co-owner of Sanad Protection and Security Services, a Syrian

private security company established in 2017 and supervised by the Wagner Group in

Syria, active in the protection of Russian interests (phosphates, gas and securing oil sites)

in Syria. The exploitation of natural resources provides revenues to the Syrian regime. In

addition, the company is active in the recruitment of Syrian mercenaries to Libya and

Ukraine.

21.7.2022

Official Journal of the European Union

Position: Founder of District 6

Company; Founding partner of Easy

life Company;

Leading businessperson with personal and family business interests and activities in

multiple sectors of the Syrian economy. He benefits financially from access to

commercial opportunities and supports the Syrian regime.

Date of listing

EN

(a.k.a. Amer Zuhair Fawz)

Reasons

L 139/8

Name

As such, Ahmed Khalil Khalil supports the Syrian regime and benefits from it.

26.5.2023

325. Nasser Deeb DEEB

(a.k.a. Nasser Dhib, Nasser Dib,

Nasser Deeb)

326. Issam SHAMMOUT

(‫)ﻣﺤﻤﺪ ﻋﺼﺎﻡ ﺷﻤﻮﻁ‬

Date of birth: 21.2.1974;

Nasser Deeb Deeb is the co-owner of Sanad Protection and Security Services, a Syrian

private security company established in 2017 and supervised by the Wagner Group,

Place of birth: Baniyas, Tartus, Syria;

active in the protection of Russian interests (phosphates, gas and securing oil sites) in

Syria. The exploitation of natural resources provides revenues to the Syrian regime. In

Syrian National ID Number:

addition, he is also co-owner of the company Ella Services together with Khodr Ali Taher.

10090110187;

Gender: male

In this capacity, Nasser Deeb Deeb supports the Syrian regime and benefits from it.

Date of birth: 26.8.1971

Issam Shammout is the owner and chairman of the board of directors of the airline

“Cham Wings” and head of the Shammout Group, active in the automotive, steel,

aviation, freight forwarding, construction, and real estate sectors.

Place of birth: 232, Tanzeem

Kafarsus, Damascus, Syria

Gender: male

Date of listing

21.7.2022

21.7.2022’.

In this capacity, Issam Shammout is a leading businessperson operating in Syria.

Official Journal of the European Union

(a.k.a. Mohammed Issam

Shammout, Mohamed Essam

Shammout, Muhammad Issam

Shammout, Muhammad Essam

Shammout)

Reasons

EN

(‫)ﻧﺎﺻﺮ ﺩﻳﺐ‬

Identifying information

26.5.2023

Name

L 139/9

لائحة تنفيذية من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي بتحديث بيانات المشمولين بعقوبات سورية، منهم: غزوان خير بك، محمد وليد غزال، محمد إبراهيم الشعار، هاشم أنور العقاد، خالد الزبيدي، مازن الترزي، سامر فوز، وسيم القطان.