Syria

Sanctions regime

Overview

UN Sanctions

In 2005, by UN Resolution 1636 (still in force today), the UN imposed travel bans and asset freezes on people suspected of being involved in the 14 February 2005 terrorist bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, in which Syria was implicated by a UN report.

EU Sanctions

The EU implemented the UN’s travel ban and asset freeze sanctions in 2005 by Common Position 2005/888/CFSP and Council Regulation (EC) No 305/2006.

In 2011, the EU established an autonomous sanctions regime in response to the Syrian government’s violent repression of civilians.

In response to further violence, and the illegal removal of goods belonging to Syria’s cultural heritage additional sanctions measures were introduced in 2013/2014.

The EU designates people who are leading businesspersons operating in Syria; responsible for the Syrian regime’s violent repression against the civilian population; provide support to the Syrian regime and the Syrian army; provide benefit from the Syrian regime; assist in the production and development of chemical weapons for the Syrian regime; organize chemical weapons attacks; are senior officers of the Syrian Armed Forces and the Syrian security and intelligence services; and are members of Syrian regime-affiliated militias.  The current EU sanctions are in Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP and Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012.

DPs may be removed from the EU Syria sanctions list if there is sufficient information that they are not, or are no longer, associated with the regime or do not exercise influence over it or do not pose a real risk of circumvention.

UK Sanctions

UK sanctions are in the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

US Sanctions

Syria has been designated by the US on the State Sponsor of Terrorism List since December 1979, which results in a ban on defence exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions.

Additional import and export controls were introduced in May 2004 by the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, and assets freezes were imposed in 2011.  Current US sanctions are contained within EO 13894, consisting of an arms embargo, assets freeze, and travel bans.

Current UN Sanctions

In 2005, by UN Resolution 1636 (still in force today), the UN imposed travel bans and asset freezes on people suspected of being involved in the 14 February 2005 terrorist bombing in Beirut, Lebanon, in which Syria was implicated by a UN report.

Current EU Sanctions

The EU implemented the UN’s travel ban and asset freeze sanctions in 2005 by Common Position 2005/888/CFSP and Council Regulation (EC) No 305/2006.

In 2011, the EU established an autonomous sanctions regime in response to the Syrian government’s violent repression of civilians.

In response to further violence, and the illegal removal of goods belonging to Syria’s cultural heritage additional sanctions measures were introduced in 2013/2014.

The EU designates people who are responsible for the Syrian regime’s violent repression against the civilian population; provide support to the Syrian regime and the Syrian army; provide benefit from the Syrian regime; assist in the production and development of chemical weapons for the Syrian regime; organize chemical weapons attacks; are senior officers of the Syrian Armed Forces and the Syrian security and intelligence services; and are members of Syrian regime-affiliated militias.  The current EU sanctions are in Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP and Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012.

Current UK Sanctions

UK sanctions are in the Syria (Sanctions) (EU Exit) Regulations 2019.

Current US Sanctions

Syria has been designated by the US on the State Sponsor of Terrorism List since December 1979, which results in a ban on defence exports and sales; certain controls over exports of dual use items; and miscellaneous financial and other restrictions.

Additional import and export controls were introduced in May 2004 by the Syria Accountability and Lebanese Sovereignty Restoration Act, and assets freezes were imposed in 2011.  Current US sanctions are contained within EO 13894, consisting of an arms embargo, assets freeze, and travel bans.

Other Countries Sanctions

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