(1)

On 31 May 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/255/CFSP (2) and on 18 January 2012 it adopted Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 (3) concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria. This was following the adoption of Council conclusions in which the Council condemned the violence and widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights in Syria.

(2)

Following the fall of al-Assad’s regime in Syria, in its conclusions of 19 December 2024 the European Council stressed the historic opportunity to reunite and rebuild the country and underlined the importance of an inclusive and Syrian-led political process that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people, in line with the core principles of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015).

(3)

On the basis of a review of Decision 2013/255/CFSP, the Council assessed that, in order to encourage an inclusive transition in Syria and to support humanitarian aid delivery, economic recovery, reconstruction and stabilisation, as well as facilitating the return of Syrian nationals to Syria along with their belongings, it is appropriate to suspend a number of sectoral and individual measures, introduce certain exemptions, as well as to remove the expiry date of the current humanitarian exemption from asset freeze measures. To this end, on 24 February 2025 the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2025/406.

(4)

The Council will closely follow the developments in Syria, particularly with as regards the concerns expressed in the European Council Conclusions of 19 December 2024, to examine the appropriateness of the continued suspension of and exemptions to the restrictive measures concerned.

(5)

In this context, the Council notes that the delimitation of maritime zones should be addressed through dialogue and negotiation in good faith, in full respect of international law and in accordance with the principle of good neighbourly relations. Any violation of neighbouring States’ sovereign rights within their maritime zones in accordance with law of the sea, will be duly considered in the context of the constant review of the restrictive measures.

(6)

These measures fall within the scope of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and therefore, in particular with a view to ensuring their uniform application in all Member States, regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary.

(7)

Regulation (EU) 36/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly,

(1)

the following Article is inserted:

(2)

in Article 6, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 6 (*1)

(*1)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(3)

in Article 6a, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 6a (*2)

(*2)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(4)

in Article 6b, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 6b (*3)

(*3)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(5)

in Article 7, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7 (*4)

(*4)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(6)

in Article 7a, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 7a (*5)

(*5)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(7)

in Article 8, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 8 (*6)

(*6)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(8)

in Article 9, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 9 (*7)

(*7)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(9)

in Article 9a, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 9a (*8)

(*8)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(10)

in Article 10, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 10 (*9)

(*9)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(11)

in Article 11, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 11 (*10)

(*10)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(12)

in Article 11b, paragraph 2 is replaced by the following:

(13)

in Article 12, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 12 (*11)

(*11)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(14)

in Article 13, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 13 (*12)

(*12)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(15)

in Article 13a, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 13a (*13)

(*13)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(16)

Article 14 is amended as follows:

(17)

Article 15 is amended as follows:

(18)

in Article 16a, paragraph 1 is replaced by the following:

(19)

Article 20 is replaced by the following:

(20)

in Article 21a, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 21a (*14)

(*14)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(21)

in Article 21b, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 21b (*15)

(*15)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(22)

Article 25a is replaced by the following:

(23)

in Article 26a, the heading is replaced by the following:

‘Article 26a (*16)

(*16)  The application of this provision is suspended pursuant to Article 1a of this Regulation’ "

(24)

in Article 27, paragraph 1, point (a) is replaced by the following:

;

(25)

Article 32 is amended as follows: