Updated on
Summary The European Union has tightened its sanctions on Syria.
The European Union strengthened its arms embargo against Syria on Monday and toughened sanctions against supporters of the country’s president, Bashar al-Assad, in response to worsening violence there.At a meeting in Brussels, foreign ministers decided that their 27 nations will be required to search airplanes and ships suspected of carrying weapons or other banned equipment into Syria.They also decided to impose asset freezes and visa bans against 26 more people, and to prevent European companies from doing business with three more entities in Syria. The 26 people were not immediately identified.The new obligation to search vessels suspected of carrying arms applies to all weapons destined for the country, including any intended for opposition forces, said one European official who was not authorized to speak publicly.Previously, it was up to member states to decide on how to deal with suspect vessels according to their own domestic laws.Under the agreement, any banned items must be seized. In addition, aircraft and vessels heading to Syria will have to provide additional information on their cargo before their departure.Monday’s decision is the 17th round of European Union sanctions against the Syrian regime since the violence began in March 2011. It brings to the total number of people subject to E.U. measures to 155, with 52 entities now affected by an asset freeze.
