17/05/2019 (Agence Europe) – On Friday 17 May, the Council of the EU extended the EU's restrictive measures against the Syrian regime and its supporters until 1 June 2020. 270 individuals and 70 entities are subject to a visa ban and assets freeze, as they are responsible for violent repression against the population, take advantage of or support the regime and/or are associated with such individuals or entities. Five deceased persons are no longer sanctioned, as are two entities: one has ceased to exist and, according to the Council of the EU, there is no longer any reason to maintain the sanctions for the other. Sanctions also include, in particular, an oil embargo, a freeze on the assets of the Syrian central bank in the EU and restrictions on exports of equipment and technology that could be used for internal repression or surveillance purposes. (CG)