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EU sanctions against Syria

On 29 May 2017, the Council extended EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime until 1 June 2018. This decision is in line with the EU strategy on Syria, which states that the EU will maintain its restrictive measures against the Syrian regime and its supporters as long as the repression of civilians continues.

At the same time the Council added to the list of those under restrictive measures 3 ministers of the Syrian government, and updated the information related to certain persons and entities on the list. It now includes 240 persons and 67 entities targeted by a travel ban and an asset freeze over the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria.

The sanctions currently in place against Syria include an oil embargo, restrictions on certain investments, a freeze of the assets of the Syrian central bank within the EU and export restrictions on equipment and technology that might be used for internal repression, as well as on equipment and technology for monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications.

240 individuals and 67 entities are now targeted by these EU sanctions.

As part of its security response and the fight against terrorism, the EU also implements UN Security Council sanctions on the freezing of funds of persons and entities associated with Usama bin Laden, the Al-Qaida network and the Taliban, including ISIL/Da'esh.

On 20 September 2016, the Council adopted a legal framework which will allow the EU to apply sanctions autonomously to ISIL/Da'esh and Al-Qaida and persons and entities associated with or supporting them.

EU strategy on Syria

The EU Strategy for Syria is summed up in two documents:
  1. the Foreign Affairs Council Conclusions of 3 April 2017, which follows up on
  2. the Joint Communication by the High Representative and the Commission of 14 March 2017.
Both of these documents define the EU's strategic objectives in Syria as:
  • an end to the war through a genuine political transition
  • a meaningful and inclusive transition in Syria
  • the humanitarian needs of the most vulnerable Syrians
  • democracy, human rights and freedom of speech
  • accountability for war crimes
  • the resilience of the Syrian population and Syrian society.
The strategy represents one part of the EU's larger regional strategy for Syria, Iraq and the Da'esh threat. This larger strategy was adopted in March 2015 and reviewed in May 2016.

EEC-Syria Cooperation Agreement (Suspended)

A "Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Syrian Arab Republic" was signed in Brussels on 18 January 1997 and entered into force on 1 November 1998 before all forms of cooperation were formally suspended in May 2011 following the escalation of violence and unacceptable human rights situation.

The initial aim of the agreement had been to promote overall cooperation between the the EEC and Syria with a view to contributing to the economic and social development of Syria and helping to strengthen bilateral relations. Provisions and measures willed applied to the fields of economic, technical and financial cooperation and of trade.

However, Syria's participation in all EU regional programmes was suspended in September 2011 and the provision of loans and technical assistance through the European Investment Bank (EIB) was ceased in November 2011.

The EU continues to support the Syrian population, both inside Syria and in the neighbouring countries.

EEAS description of EU-Syria relations

The European External Action Service (EEAS) describes the EU's position on Syria in these terms:

"In 2011, the EU responded to the unacceptable violence used by the military and security forces against peaceful protestors against the government in Syria. The EU suspended its cooperation with the Syrian Government under the European Neighbourhood Policy and gradually extended restrictive measures to pressurise the Syrian Government into ending violence, and to encourage a political solution to the conflict. From the very outset, the EU has condemned human rights violations in Syria in the strongest terms.

"Our objective is to bring an end to the conflict and enable the Syrian people to live in peace in their own country."

The EEAS's website contains information on the following aspects of the EU-Syria relationship:
  • political relations
  • development and cooperation
  • humanitarian Aid
  • the EU Regional Trust Fund.