Brussels, 30/05/2014 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday 28 May, the European Union decided to renew the restrictive measures against the Syrian regime following a review of the original decision taken on 31 May 2013. These measures will apply until 1 June 2015. They include a number of export and import bans - including an oil embargo, and restrictions on investments, financial activity and the transport sector.
In total, 179 people associated with the violent repression in Syria remain targeted with an asset freeze and travel ban. Two people - the deputy minister for defence, Asif Shawakat, who died in July 2012, and Sulieman Maarouf, a businessman close to the al-Assad family - have been removed from the list. 53 entities linked to the repressive policies - including the Central Bank of Syria - will continue to have their assets frozen within the EU, unlike at the Syria International Islamic Bank, which has also been removed from the list. No explanation was given on these withdrawals.
The decision to extend the sanctions was adopted by written procedure on Wednesday 28 May and has been in force since Thursday 29 May, with publication of the legal act in the Official Journal of the EU. (CG)