On 14 May 2012, the Council of the European Union (EU) imposed additional sanctions against Syria for the fifteenth time. The Council decided to add three natural persons and two entities that provide financial support to the Syrian regime to the EU’s asset freeze list, and additionally subjects these natural persons to a travel ban, by means of Council Implementing Decision 2012/256/CFSP.1 The Council at the same time adopted Council Implementing Regulation 410/20122 which implements this Decision, making it directly binding for companies and individuals. One natural person has been removed from the list of designated parties.

Decision 2012/256/CFSP and Implementing Regulation 410/2012 entered into force on 15 May 2012.

The additional restrictions amend the basic Council Decision 2011/782/CFSP3 and Council Implementing Regulation 36/2012,4 which have already been amended numerous times. More information on the EU’s basic sanctions regime against Syria and subsequent amendments (with links) can be found in our alerts of 6 December 2011, 20 January 2012, 25 January 2012, 29 February 2012, 27 March 2012, and 25 April 2012.

Please see full alert below for more information.