Council strengthens EU sanctions against Syrian regime

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

EN

Luxembourg, 23 April 2012

8957/12

PRESSE 163

Council strengthens EU sanctions against Syrian regime

In view of the gravity of the situation in Syria, the Council today reinforced once more EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime.

The Council decided to adopt restrictive measures on the export to Syria of additional equipment, goods and technology that can be used for internal repression or for making and maintaining such products. It also agreed to ban the sales of luxury goods from the EU to Syria.

EU High Representative Catherine Ashton said: "We have imposed additional sanctions against the Syrian regime because of deep concern about the situation and the continuing violence, in spite of the ceasefire. The repression in Syria must stop. We are working with the international community to ensure that we enforce sanctions as effectively as possible."

The Council will adopt implementing legislation to define which items are covered by these two provisions.

This is the fourteenth time the EU imposes restrictive measures against the Syrian regime since the start of the violent repression against the civilian population.

Today's decision will be published in the EU Official Journal of 24 April 2012.

See also: Council conclusions on Syria

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

بيان صحفي من مجلس الاتحاد الأوروبي يعلن حظر تصدير السلع الفاخرة وسلع إضافية قد تُستخدم في القمع أو في تصنيع معدات الاتصالات إلى سورية.