Web alert: EU extends scope of Syria Sanctions

On 12 December 2014, the EU extended the scope of sanctions against Syria with the publication of Council Decision 2014/901/CFSP which amends Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP, and Council Regulation (EU) No 1323/2014 which amends Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012. Both the Council Decision and Regulation concern increasing restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria.

The new measures to be aware of include:

• a prohibition on the sale, supply, transfer or export of jet fuel and fuel additives to Syria; and
• a prohibition on providing direct or indirect financial assistance, insurance, reinsurance or brokering services relating to any of the above transactions.

The EU sanctions regime has not been significantly extended for some time, except for regular changes to the designated list of entities and individuals.  The EU Council advised that this latest move is in response to evidence that the Syrian air force has been carrying out indiscriminate air attacks against its civilian population.

The jet fuel and jet fuel additives are identified in Annex Va of the Council Regulation.

Please also note:

• The previous EU sanctions in relation to Syria still remain in force.
• There is a prohibition against knowingly and intentionally participating in activities, the object or effect of which is to circumvent the aforementioned measures.
• Members should carry out their own due diligence in respect of sanctions and satisfy themselves that they are not in breach of EU sanctions, or any other applicable sanctions regime.

类别: Sanctions