Tougher sanctions against Syria

On 23 August, the European Union tightened up its sanctions against Syria's leadership by expanding the list of individuals and entities targeted by restrictive measures.

© Fotolia, Floki Fotos

The decision imposed visa bans and asset freezes on a further 15 persons linked to the violent repression. Four more Syrian government agencies and the IRGC Qods Force, a specialist arm of the Iranian Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) involved in providing equipment and support to help the Syria regime suppress protests, were also added to the list, which had hitherto targeted 35 individuals and four entities.

Regulation to implement restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (full text, pdf)

On the same day, in Geneva, the United Nations Human Rights Council (UNHRC) held a special session on Syria, convened at the request of the European Union and backed by a large number of other member and observer states. The UNHRC condemned the violence by Syrian authorities and decided to dispatch an international team to probe reported violations of human rights law in the country. Catherine Ashton, the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, warmly welcomed the outcome of the special session and the decision to launch an urgent investigation into human rights violations.

More information:
Statements by the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy:
- on the special session of the UN Human Rights Council on Syria (pdf)
- on the broadening of restrictive measures against the government of Syria (pdf)
- on behalf of the EU on EU action following the escalation of violent repression in Syria (pdf)
EU External Action website on Syria