01/06/2022 (Agence Europe) – On Tuesday 31 May, the EU Council extended the EU sanctions against the Syrian regime for another year, until 1 June 2023. Three people were removed from the sanctions list: Muhammad Bukhaytan and Salam Tohme, deceased, and Abdelkader Sabra, removed following a decision from the EU Court of Justice (see EUROPE 12912/27). The list now includes 289 individuals and 70 entities. The measures were introduced in 2011 in response to the violent repression of the civilian population. The EU has also adopted an oil import ban, restrictions on certain investments, a freeze on Syrian Central Bank assets held in the EU, and restrictions on the export of equipment and technology that could be used for internal repression or to monitor or intercept internet or telephone communications. (CG)