Brussels, 27/05/2016 (Agence Europe) - In a written procedure on Friday 27 May, the Council extended by one year - until 1 June 2017 - the restrictive measures of the EU against the Syrian regime and its supporters.
“This decision is in line with the Council conclusions of December 2014 which affirmed that the EU would continue imposing and enforcing sanctions targeting the regime and its supporters as long as repression continues”, the Council of the EU states in a press release.
Through this decision, the legal acts of which will be published in the Official Journal of the EU on Saturday 28 May, the EU extends by one year its oil embargo, its restrictions on certain investments, its freeze on the assets in the EU of the Syrian central bank, its restrictions on exporting equipment and technology likely to be used for the purposes of Syrian domestic repression, and its restrictions on equipment and technology likely to be used for monitoring or intercepting the internet or telephone calls. Over 200 people and 70 entities see a ban on their visas for the EU and a freeze of their assets until 1 June 2017 “over the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria”.
The G7 countries - France, Germany, Italy, the UK, the USA, Canada and Japan - called the same day on all parties and their supporters to respect the cessation of hostilities (see other article). They condemned “in the strongest terms”, the violations of this cessation by the Syrian regime, especially in the Aleppo region. “The parties must cease indiscriminate attacks on civilians”, the G7 countries stated, calling on all parties to the conflict and the international community to commit to an inclusive and peaceful political transition in Syria, based on the Geneva Communiqué of 2012. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)