22/07/2014 (Agence Europe) - EU strengthens its sanctions against Syrian regime. On Tuesday 22 July, the Council reinforced EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime, “in view of the gravity of the situation in Syria”. Three additional persons and nine entities have thus been targeted by a visa ban and assets freeze “due to their involvement in the violent repression of the civilian population or their support to the regime”, the Council stated in a press release. The legal acts, including the names of the designated persons and entities, will be published in the EU Official Journal of Wednesday 23 July and will enter into force at the same time. With this decision, 192 persons and 62 entities are now under EU restrictions in connection with the Syrian crisis. (CG)