Brussels, 29/04/2011 (Agence Europe) - Representatives of the 27 EU member states at the Political and Security Committee (PSC) met on Friday 29 April at the end of the afternoon to examine several options for taking targeted sanctions against the leaders of the Bachar al-Assad regime as a response to its bloody acts of repression in recent weeks. The various options on the table, prepared by the EEAS under Catherine Ashton, include: - the suspension of EU aid paid directly to Syrian authorities within the framework of neighbourhood policy or other cooperation projects (those benefitting the people of Syria and implemented by NGOs would not be concerned); - a freeze of assets and a visa ban on those directly responsible for the repression; - and an embargo on arms sales. The EEAS document also suggested adopting a common UN approach so that the four European countries that currently have seats at the Security Council (France, United Kingdom, Portugal and Germany) should define a European stance there. It has also been suggested that the EU put pressure on Asian countries so that they do not put Syria forward as a candidate for the UN Human Rights Council. Also, the EU/Syria association agreement, ready for signature since 2009, has been put in cold storage. At the time of going to press, PSC discussions were still underway. On Friday morning, a senior EEAS diplomat said there was “broad agreement” between the 27 that the “right message” should be sent, through sanctions, to Damascus. (H.B./transl.jl)