17/02/2020 (Agence Europe) – On Monday 17 February, the Council of the EU added eight businessmen and two entities linked to these businessmen - Al Qatarji Company and Damascus Cham Holding Company - to the list of persons and entities subject to sanctions against the Syrian regime and its supporters. The first company works on import/export, transport, and supply of oil and goods, and the second is active in real estate development. According to the EU Council, their activities directly benefited the Bashar al-Assad regime, “including through projects located on lands expropriated from persons displaced by the conflict”. The legal acts related to this decision were published on the same day. The sanctions list now includes 277 individuals and 71 entities subject to a travel ban and asset freeze. (CG)