This document is an excerpt from the EUR-Lex website
Decision 2013/255/CFSP – restrictive measures against Syria
Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 – restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
The decision and the regulation are part of the European Union’s (EU) common foreign and security policy (CFSP) toolbox, promoting the CFSP objectives by providing the legal basis for EU sanctions in view of the situation in Syria.
Both legal acts have been amended on several occasions.
Restrictions on trade in goods, services and technology
The sanctions include restrictions on trade with the EU in items that might be used directly or indirectly for the internal repression of the Syrian people. They include:
Asset freezing and travel bans
The sanctions also target individuals and companies responsible for the violent repression of the Syrian people, along with those supporting or benefiting the regime and individuals and companies associated with them. In particular, the decision and the regulation impose the following restrictions.
The Annex to Decision 2013/255/CFSP contains a regularly amended list of the individuals and companies covered by these measures.
EU strategy for Syria
In 2017, when adopting the EU strategy for Syria, the Council of the European Union stated that it would continue to consider further restrictive measures targeting Syrian individuals and entities supporting the regime as long as the repression continues. The strategy focuses on six key areas:
Amendments to the decision and to the regulation in view of the February 2023 earthquake
The EU legislation with regard to sanctions in view of the situation in Syria does not forbid the export of food, medicines or medical equipment to Syria or the targeting of Syria’s healthcare system, and it includes a wide-ranging humanitarian exception to ensure the continued provision of humanitarian assistance to any part of the country. In February 2023, following a powerful earthquake that exacerbated the humanitarian crisis, the Council adopted amendments to Decision 2013/255/CFSP and to Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 to ensure that assistance to the civilian population of Syria would be delivered rapidly. This involved waiving the requirement for humanitarian organisations to seek prior permission from Member States’ competent authorities to make transfers or provide goods and services intended for humanitarian purposes to listed persons and entities. Initially adopted for a period of 6 months, the exemption has been extended several times, most recently by amending Regulation (EU) 2023/2877 and Decision (CFSP) 2023/2876, which prolonged it to 1 June 2024.
In December 2015, the United Nations Security Council adopted Resolution 2254 on the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Syria. The EU remains committed to finding a lasting and credible political solution to the situation in the country on the basis of this resolution and of the 2012 Geneva communiqué.
For more information, see:
Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures against Syria (OJ L 147, 1.6.2013, pp. 14–45).
Successive amendments to Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.
Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 of 18 January 2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria and repealing Regulation (EU) No 442/2011 (OJ L 16, 19.1.2012, pp. 1–32).
See consolidated version.
Joint communication to the European Parliament and the Council – Elements for an EU Strategy for Syria (JOIN(2017) 11 final, 14.3.2017).
Consolidated version of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union – Part Five – The Union’s external action – Title IV – Restrictive measures – Article 215 (ex Article 301 TEC) (OJ C 202, 7.6.2016, p. 144).
last update 27.05.2024