During the evening of Tuesday 7 November, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced that the EU was considering new sanctions after the presentation, earlier that day, of the seventh report by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons-United Nations Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM).
This report concludes that the Syrian Arab Republic was responsible for the release of sarin at Khan Sheikhoun, Syria, on 4 April 2017, and that Da'esh was responsible for the use of sulphur mustard at Um-Housh on 15 and 16 September 2016. This is the fourth chemical attack by the Syrian armed forces, and the second by Da'esh, to be confirmed by the JIM.
Saying that the EU had already adopted sanctions following the confirmed use of chemical weapons, including most recently in July (see EUROPE 11831), and that the EU was "determined to take strict measures against these crimes", Mogherini said in a statement on behalf of the EU that "further sanctions are under consideration to ensure that there is no room for impunity". "Those responsible for such acts must be held accountable. Any entities and individuals guilty of violations of international law, including the use of chemical weapons have to be sanctioned accordingly", she said.
Mogherini stated that the EU calls on all countries "to use their influence" to prevent any further use of chemical weapons by the Syrian regime. She also said that the EU "calls on the regime's allies, notably Russia, to exercise appropriate pressure on the Syrian regime to this end".
Mogherini expressed the EU's "strongest condemnation" of these chemical attacks, which she described as "unspeakable acts". "The Syrian regime’s appalling use of sarin nerve agent against the people of Khan Sheikhoun resulted in hundreds of casualties. The use of chemical weapons by anyone, be it a state or non-state actors, anywhere and under any circumstances is contrary to international law and must be rigorously "condemned", Mogherini said.
And although Russia seems little inclined to extend the JIM's mandate, Mogherini urged the UN Security Council to maintain the JIM's investigative capacity. She said that the EU fully supported the JIM, the "professionalism and independence" of which "is held in the highest regard and trust", she said. "The JIM needs to continue its valuable work", Mogherini added. Chemical attacks "only reinforce the urgent need for a genuine political transition in Syria and the EU's will support UN efforts to broker a political solution to the Syrian conflict through the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva", which will be resumed on 20 November, she concluded. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)