Syria: EU sanctions regarding luxury and dual use goods to apply from 17 June

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

EN

Luxembourg, 15 June 2012

11222/12

PRESSE 263

Syria: EU sanctions regarding luxury and dual use goods

to apply from 17 June

The Council today approved implementing rules on certain EU sanctions against Syria: the ban on exports of luxury goods and of additional dual use goods to Syria. Today's decision identifies the items covered by these measures and will ensure that they enter into force on 17 June.

The measures concern in particular certain additional equipment, goods and technology that may be used for manufacturing and maintaining goods that may be used for internal repression. The export to Syria of such items is prohibited or will require prior authorisation. In addition, today's decision defines which luxury goods are subject to an export ban from the EU to Syria.

Catherine Ashton, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, said: "In the current situation, the EU must keep up the pressure on the Syrian regime. EU sanctions target those responsible for the appalling repression and violence against the civilian population. We have carefully calibrated today's decisions to avoid affecting the Syrian people. We strongly support them in this time of suffering."

The regulation adopted today, together with a full list of the items in question, will be published in tomorrow's edition of the EU Official Journal. Examples of the goods concerned can be found below.

For more information on EU sanctions against the Syrian regime, see factsheet European Union and Syria.

* * *

Examples of goods covered by today's decisions

Luxury goods include:

caviar, truffles, and cigars with a sales price exceeding EUR 10 per item;

wines and spirits with a sales price exceeding EUR 50 per litre;

leather goods (sales price above EUR 200), garments and shoes (items above EUR 600), jewellery, gems and pearls;

tableware, clocks and watches (above EUR 500), lead crystal glassware (above EUR 200);

luxury vehicles, planes and boats. New vehicles from EUR 25.000.

Dual use goods that may not be exported to Syria include:

protection and detection equipment, for example gas masks and protective suits;

chemical manufacturing facilities, such as reaction vessels and storage tanks;

chemicals that may be used a precursors for toxic chemical agents;

human, animal and plant pathogens, i.e. certain viruses, bacteria and toxins.

Dual use goods subject to authorisation for export to Syria include:

further chemicals and toxins;

additional laboratory equipment and chemical manufacturing facilities, such as certain valves or vacuum pumps;

technology and software required for the development, production or use of goods requiring authorisation for export to Syria.

بيان صحفي من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي حول بدء تطبيق حظر تصدير السلع الفاخرة والسلع ذات الاستخدام المزدوج إلى سورية.