Brussels, 24/02/2011 (Agence Europe) - Member states agree in principle that “restrictive measures” should be prepared against the Libyan regime of Muanmar Gaddafi but for the moment the form these sanctions should take, how far they should go and when they should be implemented remain to be discussed and determined. The ambassadors of the 27 member states, meeting in the Political and Security Committee (COPS) on Wednesday, set an expert group the task of examining the various options, ranging from the simple freezing of assets, a visa ban for Gaddafi and those close to him, or an arms embargo to complete suspension of economic and financial relations with the country. On 22 February Catherine Ashton announced that framework agreement negotiations between the EU and Libya had been suspended. On Wednesday evening, after the COPS meeting, she said in a statement that “the EU is ready to take further measures”. Trying those responsible for the repression of the Libyan people in a court of law is another of the measures that could possibly be taken. “The EU stresses that those responsible for the violence against civilians will be held to account”, Ashton affirmed in her statement on 23 February. Even the most reluctant countries - Italy, Malta and Cyprus in particular - have backed the COPS decision to move forward in preparing sanctions. “Their position has changed dramatically since the Foreign Affairs Council of 21 February, mainly as a result of the massive deterioration in the situation in Libya and the intransigence shown by Gaddafi”, a diplomat explained. (H.B./transl.rt)