European Union foreign ministers on Thursday decided to extend sanctions on the Assad regime and its supporters by one more year over the regime’s continued crackdown on civilians.
The European Council, headquarters of the 27 EU countries, said in a statement Thursday that the sanctions would be extended until June 1, 2021, more than a decade after the conflict began, “as the repression of the civilian population continues.”
“EU’s sanctions target those responsible for their suffering, members of the Syrian regime, their supporters and businesspersons who finance it and benefit from the war economy,” EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell said.
The EU banned the travel and froze the assets of members of the Assad regime, as well as companies and business people benefitting from their ties with political elite.
The European assets of the Syrian central bank are also suspended, as well as the import of oil. The EU also restricted the export of equipment and technology that might be used for internal repression, including the monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications.
Currently, 273 people and 70 entities are on the EU’s blacklist in connection with the Syrian conflict.
The United States on May 7 announced it was extending its economic sanctions in the context of pressuring the Assad regime to engage into the political process and reach a political solution in accordance with international resolutions, most importantly UN Security Council resolution 2254 and the Geneva Communique of 2012. (Source: SOC’s Media Department)
