Brussels – The EU extended restrictive measures against Syria until June 2025, targeting 316 individuals and 86 entities, while maintaining humanitarian exemptions. The EU has provided over €35 billion in aid since 2011.
The European Council unfolded EU restrictive measures against the Syrian regime and its backers until 1 June 2025, in view of the gravity of the alarming situation in Syria. Following the review, the Council also decided to terminate five deceased persons and one other individual from the index.
Who is affected by the extended EU sanctions?
The restrictive criteria currently in place target a total of 316 persons and 86 entities. Those specified are subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and businesses are forbidden from making budgets available to them. Natural persons are further subject to a travel ban, which stops them from entering or transiting via EU territories.
The EU Council also decided to expand the application of the humanitarian exemption presented in February 2023 in view of the gravity of the humanitarian situation in Syria, aggravated by the earthquake that hit Türkiye and Syria. This decision will ensure persistent timely delivery of humanitarian aid and other activities that sustain basic human needs and improve consistency across the EU restrictive criteria and those adopted at the UN level.
What is the EU’s stance on Syria’s humanitarian situation?
The European Council states that it remains extremely concerned about the situation in Syria. After more than 13 years, the dispute remains a source of grief and instability for the Syrian people and the territory. Against this background, the Council also recognises that the Syrian regime continues to follow a policy of repression and breaches of human rights. It is therefore appropriate and required to maintain the restrictive standards in place.
When Did the EU first impose Sanctions on Syria?
Sanctions on Syria were first raised in 2011 in response to the fierce repression of the civilian population by the Assad regime. The EU sanctions in position regarding Syria target the Assad regime and its partners, as well as sectors of the economy from which the regime gains.
How do EU sanctions impact Syria’s healthcare sector?
EU sanctions in place concerning Syria are not meant to restrict the provision of humanitarian assistance to any part of the government. EU sanctions do not restrict the export of food, medicines or medical supplies by the EU to Syria, and they do not target Syria’s healthcare approach.
The sanctions regime includes a broad range of humanitarian exceptions to ensure the condition of humanitarian assistance to any part of the country. Following the bleak earthquake of 6 February 2023, the already living humanitarian exceptions were strengthened to further encourage the speedy delivery of humanitarian aid to the Syrian population.
How much aid has the EU provided to Syria?
The EU and its member states have mustered over €35 billion since 2011, remaining the largest provider of international assistance and delivering humanitarian, stabilisation and resilience assistance inside Syria and in neighbouring nations.
Since 2017, the EU has annually the Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the Region’ to maintain Syria high on the international political schedule, to raise stakes for assistance to those in demand, and to dialogue with Syrian civil institutions.
