22/07/2013 (Agence Europe) - Regulation relaxing embargo adopted. On Monday 22 July, the Foreign Affairs Council adopted the implementing regulation on the restrictive measures on Syria, with a view to relaxing various sanctions related to oil. The decision to relax the embargo was made at the Council of 22 April 2013 (see EUROPE 10832). It aims to help the civilian population and support the opposition. The regulation, which will officially enter into force when it is published in the Official Journal this Tuesday, defines the conditions to be observed to allow the member states to authorise imports of oil and petroleum products, and the export to Syria of essential technologies to be used in the oil and gas sectors. In order for a transaction to be approved, the 28 member states must first consult the Coalition and ensure that it will not circumvent any of the EU sanctions in place against Syria. (CG/transl.fl)