COUNCIL DECISION 2012/739/CFSP
of 29 November 2012
concerning restrictive measures against Syria and repealing Decision 2011/782/CFSP
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 1 December 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/782/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria (1).
(2)
On the basis of a review of Decision 2011/782/CFSP, the Council has concluded that the restrictive measures should be renewed until 1 March 2013.
(3)
Furthermore, it is necessary to update the list of persons and entities subject to restrictive measures as set out in Annex I to Decision 2011/782/CFSP.
(4)
For the sake of clarity, the measures imposed under Decision 2011/273/CFSP should be integrated into a single legal instrument.
(5)
Decision 2011/782/CFSP should therefore be repealed.
(6)
Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
CHAPTER I
EXPORT AND IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
Article 1
1. The sale, supply, transfer or export of arms and related matériel of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts for the aforementioned, as well as equipment which might be used for internal repression, to Syria by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be prohibited, whether originating or not in their territories.
2. The sale, supply, transfer or export of certain other equipment, goods and technology which might be used for internal repression or for the manufacture and maintenance of products which could be used for internal repression, to Syria by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be prohibited, whether originating or not in their territories.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this paragraph.
3. It shall be prohibited to:
(a)
provide, directly or indirectly, technical assistance, brokering services or other services related to the items referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2 or related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of such items, to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria;
(b)
provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance related to the items referred to in paragraphs 1 and 2, including in particular grants, loans and export credit insurance, as well as insurance and reinsurance, for any sale, supply, transfer or export of such items, or for the provision of related technical assistance, brokering services or other services to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria.
Article 2
1. The sale, supply, transfer or export of certain equipment, goods or technology other than those referred to in Article 1(2) which might be used for internal repression or for the manufacture and maintenance of products which could be used for internal repression, to Syria by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be subject to authorisation on a case-by-case basis by the competent authorities of the exporting Member State.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this paragraph.
2. The provision of:
(a)
technical assistance, brokering services or other services related to the items referred to in paragraph 1 or related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of such items, to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria;
(b)
financing or financial assistance related to the items referred to in paragraph 1, including in particular grants, loans and export credit insurance, as well as insurance and reinsurance, for any sale, supply, transfer or export of such items, or for the provision of related technical assistance, brokering services or other services to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria,
shall also be subject to an authorisation of the competent authority of the exporting Member State.
Article 3
1. Article 1 shall not apply to:
(a)
supplies and technical assistance intended solely for the support of or use by the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF);
(b)
the sale, supply, transfer or export of non-lethal military equipment or of equipment which might be used for internal repression, intended solely for humanitarian or protective use, or for institution building programmes of the United Nations (UN) and the European Union, or for European Union and UN crisis management operations;
(c)
the sale, supply, transfer or export of non-combat vehicles which have been manufactured or fitted with materials to provide ballistic protection, intended solely for the protective use of personnel of the European Union and its Member States in Syria;
(d)
the provision of technical assistance, brokering services and other services related to such equipment or to such programmes and operations;
(e)
the provision of financing and financial assistance related to such equipment or to such programmes and operations,
on condition that such exports and assistance have been approved in advance by the relevant competent authority.
2. Article 1 shall not apply to protective clothing, including flak jackets and military helmets, temporarily exported to Syria by UN personnel, personnel of the European Union or its Member States, representatives of the media and humanitarian and development workers and associated personnel for their personal use only.
Article 4
1. The purchase, import or transport of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts for the aforementioned, from Syria or originating in Syria, shall be prohibited.
2. It shall be prohibited to provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance, including financial derivatives, as well as insurance and reinsurance, and brokering services related to insurance and reinsurance, for any purchase, import or transport of the items referred to in paragraph 1, from Syria or originating in Syria.
Article 5
The sale, supply, transfer or export of equipment or software intended primarily for use in the monitoring or interception by the Syrian regime, or on its behalf, of the Internet and of telephone communications on mobile or fixed networks in Syria and the provision of assistance to install, operate or update such equipment or software shall be prohibited.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
Article 6
1. The purchase, import or transport from Syria of crude oil and petroleum products shall be prohibited.
2. It shall be prohibited to provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance, including financial derivatives, as well as insurance and reinsurance, related to the prohibitions referred to in paragraph 1.
Article 7
The prohibitions in Article 6 shall be without prejudice to the execution, until 15 November 2011, of obligations provided for in contracts concluded before 2 September 2011.
Article 8
1. The sale, supply or transfer of key equipment and technology for the following key sectors of the oil and natural gas industry in Syria, or to Syrian or Syrian-owned enterprises engaged in those sectors outside Syria, by nationals of Member States, or from the territories of Member States, or using vessels or aircraft under the jurisdiction of Member States shall be prohibited whether or not originating in their territories:
(a)
refining;
(b)
liquefied natural gas;
(c)
exploration;
(d)
production.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this paragraph.
2. It shall be prohibited to provide the following to enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the key sectors of the Syrian oil and gas industry referred to in paragraph 1 or to Syrian, or Syrian-owned enterprises engaged in those sectors outside Syria:
(a)
technical assistance or training and other services related to key equipment and technology as referred to in paragraph 1;
(b)
financing or financial assistance for any sale, supply, transfer or export of key equipment and technology as set out in paragraph 1 or for the provision of related technical assistance or training.
Article 9
1. The prohibition in Article 8(1) shall be without prejudice to the execution of an obligation relating to the delivery of goods provided for in contracts awarded or concluded before 1 December 2011.
2. The prohibitions in Article 8 shall be without prejudice to the execution of an obligation arising from contracts awarded or concluded before 1 December 2011 and relating to investments made in Syria before 23 September 2011 by enterprises established in Member States.
Article 10
The delivery of Syrian denominated banknotes and coinage to the Central Bank of Syria shall be prohibited.
Article 11
The direct or indirect sale, purchase, transportation or brokering of gold and precious metals, as well as of diamonds to, from or for the Government of Syria, its public bodies, corporations and agencies, the Central Bank of Syria, as well as to, from or for persons and entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or entities owned or controlled by them, shall be prohibited.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
Article 12
The sale, supply, transfer or export of luxury goods to Syria by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be prohibited, whether originating or not in their territories.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
CHAPTER II
RESTRICTIONS ON FINANCING OF CERTAIN ENTERPRISES
Article 13
The following shall be prohibited:
(a)
the granting of any financial loan or credit to enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the Syrian oil industry sectors of exploration, production or refining, or to Syrian or Syrian-owned enterprises engaged in those sectors outside Syria;
(b)
the granting of any financial loan or credit to enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the construction of new power plants for the production of electricity in Syria;
(c)
the acquisition or extension of a participation in enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the Syrian oil industry sectors of exploration, production or refining, or in Syrian or Syrian-owned enterprises engaged in those sectors outside Syria, including the acquisition in full of such enterprises and the acquisition of shares or securities of a participating nature;
(d)
the acquisition or extension of a participation in enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the construction of new power plants for the production of electricity in Syria, including the acquisition in full of such enterprises and the acquisition of shares or securities of a participating nature;
(e)
the creation of any joint venture with enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the Syrian oil industry sectors of exploration, production or refining and with any subsidiary or affiliate under their control;
(f)
the creation of any joint venture with enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the construction of new power plants for the production of electricity in Syria and with any subsidiary or affiliate under their control.
Article 14
1. The prohibitions set out in points (a) and (c) of Article 13:
(i)
shall be without prejudice to the execution of an obligation arising from contracts or agreements concluded before 23 September 2011;
(ii)
shall not prevent the extension of a participation, if such extension is an obligation under an agreement concluded before 23 September 2011.
2. The prohibitions set out in points (b) and (d) of Article 13:
(i)
shall be without prejudice to the execution of an obligation arising from contracts or agreements concluded before 1 December 2011;
(ii)
shall not prevent the extension of a participation, if such extension is an obligation under an agreement concluded before 1 December 2011.
CHAPTER III
RESTRICTIONS ON INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECTS
Article 15
1. Participation in the construction of new power plants for the production of electricity in Syria shall be prohibited.
2. It shall be prohibited to provide technical assistance or financing or financial assistance to the construction of new power plants for the production of electricity in Syria.
3. The prohibition in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall be without prejudice to the execution of an obligation arising from contracts or agreements concluded before 1 December 2011.
CHAPTER IV
RESTRICTIONS ON FINANCIAL SUPPORT FOR TRADE
Article 16
1. Member States shall exercise restraint in entering into new short and medium-term commitments for public and private provided financial support for trade with Syria, including the granting of export credits, guarantees or insurance, to their nationals or entities involved in such trade, with a view to reducing their outstanding amounts, in particular to avoid any financial support contributing to the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria. In addition, Member States shall not enter into new long-term commitments for public and private provided financial support for trade with Syria.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not affect commitments established prior to 1 December 2011.
3. Paragraph 1 shall not concern trade for food, agricultural, medical or other humanitarian purposes.
CHAPTER V
FINANCIAL SECTOR
Article 17
Member States shall not enter into new commitments for grants, financial assistance or concessional loans to the Government of Syria, including through their participation in international financial institutions, except for humanitarian and developmental purposes.
Article 18
The following shall be prohibited:
(a)
any disbursement or payment by the European Investment Bank (EIB) under or in connection with any existing loan agreements entered into between Syria and the EIB;
(b)
the continuation by the EIB of any existing Technical Assistance Service Contracts for sovereign projects located in Syria.
Article 19
The following shall be prohibited: the direct or indirect sale or purchase of, or brokering or assistance in the issuance of Syrian public or public-guaranteed bonds issued after 1 December 2011 to and from the Government of Syria, its public bodies, corporations and agencies, the Central Bank of Syria, or banks domiciled in Syria, or branches and subsidiaries within and outside the jurisdiction of Member States of banks domiciled in Syria, or financial entities that are neither domiciled in Syria nor within the jurisdiction of the Member States, but are controlled by persons and entities domiciled in Syria as well as any persons and entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or entities owned or controlled by them.
Article 20
1. The opening of new branches, subsidiaries, or representative offices of Syrian banks in the territories of Member States, and the establishment of new joint ventures, or the taking of an ownership interest, or the establishment of new correspondent banking relationships by Syrian banks, including the Central Bank of Syria, its branches and subsidiaries and financial entities that are not domiciled in Syria, but are controlled by persons or entities domiciled in Syria, with banks in the jurisdiction of Member States, shall be prohibited.
2. Financial institutions within the territories of the Member States or under their jurisdiction shall be prohibited from opening representative offices, subsidiaries or banking accounts in Syria.
Article 21
1. The provision of insurance and re-insurance to the Government of Syria, its public bodies, corporations and agencies or to any persons or entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or to entities owned or controlled by them, including through illicit means, shall be prohibited.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the provision of:
(a)
health or travel insurance to natural persons;
(b)
compulsory or third party insurance to Syrian persons, entities or bodies based in the Union;
(c)
insurance or re-insurance to the owner of a vessel, aircraft or vehicle chartered by a Syrian person, entity or body and which person, entity or body is not listed in Annex I or II.
CHAPTER VI
TRANSPORT SECTOR
Article 22
1. Member States, in accordance with their national legislation and consistent with international law, in particular relevant international civil aviation agreements, shall take the necessary measures to prevent access to the airports under their jurisdiction of all exclusively cargo flights operated by Syrian carriers and all flights operated by Syrian Arab Airlines.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to the access to airports under the jurisdiction of Member States of flights operated by Syrian Arab Airlines, necessary for the sole purpose of evacuating citizens of the Union and their family members from Syria.
Article 23
1. If Member States have information that provides reasonable grounds to believe that the cargo of vessels and aircraft bound for Syria contains items whose supply, sale, transfer or export is prohibited under Article 1 or subject to authorisation under Article 2, they shall inspect, in accordance with their national legislation and consistent with international law, in particular the law of the sea and relevant international civil aviation agreements and maritime transport agreements, such vessels and aircraft in their seaports and airports, as well as in their territorial sea, in accordance with decisions and capabilities of their competent authorities and with the consent, as necessary in accordance with international law for the territorial sea, of the flag State.
2. Member States, in accordance with their national legislation and consistent with international law, shall, upon discovery, seize and dispose of items whose supply, sale, transfer or export is prohibited under Article 1 or 2.
3. Member States shall cooperate, in accordance with their national legislation, with inspections and disposals undertaken pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2.
4. Aircraft and vessels transporting cargo to Syria shall be subject to the requirement of additional pre-arrival or pre-departure information for all goods brought into or out of a Member State.
CHAPTER VII
RESTRICTIONS ON ADMISSION
Article 24
1. Member States shall take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into, or transit through, their territories of the persons responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, persons benefiting from or supporting the regime, and persons associated with them, as listed in Annex I.
2. Paragraph 1 shall not oblige a Member State to refuse its own nationals entry into its territory.
3. Paragraph 1 shall be without prejudice to the cases where a Member State is bound by an obligation of international law, namely:
(a)
as a host country to an international intergovernmental organisation;
(b)
as a host country to an international conference convened by, or under the auspices of, the UN;
(c)
under a multilateral agreement conferring privileges and immunities; or
(d)
under the 1929 Treaty of Conciliation (Lateran pact) concluded by the Holy See (State of the Vatican City) and Italy.
4. Paragraph 3 shall be considered as also applying in cases where a Member State is host country to the Organisation for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE).
5. The Council shall be duly informed in all cases where a Member State grants an exemption pursuant to paragraph 3 or 4.
6. Member States may grant exemptions from the measures imposed under paragraph 1 where travel is justified on the grounds of urgent humanitarian need, or on grounds of attending intergovernmental meetings, including those promoted by the Union, or hosted by a Member State holding the Chairmanship in office of the OSCE, where a political dialogue is conducted that directly promotes democracy, human rights and the rule of law in Syria.
7. A Member State wishing to grant exemptions referred to in paragraph 6 shall notify the Council in writing. The exemption shall be deemed to be granted unless one or more of the Council members raises an objection in writing within two working days of receiving notification of the proposed exemption. Should one or more of the Council members raise an objection, the Council, acting by a qualified majority, may decide to grant the proposed exemption.
8. Where, pursuant to paragraphs 3 to 7, a Member State authorises the entry into, or transit through, its territory of persons listed in Annex I, the authorisation shall be limited to the purpose for which it is given and to the person concerned therewith.
CHAPTER VIII
FREEZING OF FUNDS AND ECONOMIC RESSOURCES
Article 25
1. All funds and economic resources belonging to, or owned, held or controlled by persons responsible for the violent repression against the civilian population in Syria, persons and entities benefiting from or supporting the regime, and persons and entities associated with them, as listed in Annexes I and II, shall be frozen.
2. No funds or economic resources shall be made available, directly or indirectly, to or for the benefit of, the natural or legal persons or entities listed in Annexes I and II.
3. The competent authority of a Member State may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, or the making available of certain funds or economic resources, under such conditions as it deems appropriate, after having determined that the funds or economic resources concerned are:
(a)
necessary to satisfy the basic needs of the persons listed in Annexes I and II and their dependent family members, including payments for foodstuffs, rent or mortgage, medicines and medical treatment, taxes, insurance premiums, and public utility charges;
(b)
intended exclusively for the payment of reasonable professional fees and the reimbursement of incurred expenses associated with the provision of legal services;
(c)
intended exclusively for the payment of fees or service charges for the routine holding or maintenance of frozen funds or economic resources; or
(d)
necessary for extraordinary expenses, provided that the competent authority has notified the competent authority of the other Member States and the Commission of the grounds on which it considers that a specific authorisation should be granted, at least two weeks prior to the authorisation;
(e)
necessary for humanitarian purposes, such as delivering or facilitating the delivery of assistance, including medical supplies, food, humanitarian workers and related assistance, or evacuations from Syria;
(f)
to be paid into or from an account of a diplomatic or consular mission or an international organisation enjoying immunities in accordance with international law, in so far as such payments are intended to be used for official purposes of the diplomatic or consular mission or international organisation.
A Member State shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation it grants under this paragraph.
4. By way of derogation from paragraph 1, the competent authorities of a Member State, may authorise the release of certain frozen funds or economic resources, provided that the following conditions are met:
(a)
the funds or economic resources are subject of an arbitral decision rendered prior to the date on which the person or entity referred to in Paragraph 1 was listed in Annex I or II or of a judicial or administrative decision rendered in the EU, or a judicial decision enforceable in the Member State concerned, prior to or after that date;
(b)
the funds or economic resources will be used exclusively to satisfy claims secured by such a decision or recognised as valid in such a decision, within the limits set by applicable laws and regulations governing the rights of persons having such claims;
(c)
the decision is not for the benefit of a person or entity listed in Annex I or II; and
(d)
recognising the decision is not contrary to public policy in the Member State concerned.
A Member State shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under this paragraph.
5. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent a designated person or entity from making a payment due under a contract entered into before the listing of such a person or entity, provided that the relevant Member State has determined that the payment is not directly or indirectly received by a person or entity referred to in paragraph 1.
6. Paragraph 1 shall not prevent a designated entity listed in Annex II, for a period of two months after the date of its designation, from making a payment from frozen funds or economic resources received by such entity after the date of its designation, where such payment is due under a contract in connection with the financing of trade, provided that the relevant Member State has determined that the payment is not directly or indirectly received by a person or entity referred to in paragraph 1.
7. Paragraph 2 shall not apply to the addition to frozen accounts of:
(a)
interest or other earnings on those accounts; or
(b)
payments due under contracts, agreements or obligations that were concluded or arose prior to the date on which those accounts became subject to this Decision,
provided that any such interest, other earnings and payments remain subject to paragraph 1.
8. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to a transfer by or through the Central Bank of Syria of funds or economic resources received and frozen after the date of its designation or to a transfer of funds or economic resources to or through the Central Bank of Syria after the date of its designation where such transfer is related to a payment by a non-designated financial institution due in connection with a specific trade contract, provided that the relevant Member State has determined, on a case-by-case basis, that the payment is not directly or indirectly received by a person or entity referred to in paragraph 1.
9. Paragraph 1 shall not apply to a transfer by or through the Central Bank of Syria of frozen funds or economic resources where such transfer is for the purpose of providing financial institutions under the jurisdiction of Member States with liquidity for the financing of trade, provided that the transfer has been authorised by the relevant Member State.
10. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to a transfer, by or through a financial entity listed in Annex I or II, of frozen funds or economic resources where the transfer is related to a payment by a person or entity not listed in Annex I or II in connection with the provision of financial support to Syrian nationals pursuing an education, professional training or engaged in academic research in the Union, provided that the relevant Member State has determined, on a case-by-case basis, that the payment is not directly or indirectly received by a person or entity referred to in paragraph 1.
11. Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to acts or transactions carried out, with regard to Syrian Arab Airlines, for the sole purpose of evacuating citizens of the Union and their family members from Syria.
CHAPTER IX
GENERAL AND FINAL PROVISIONS
Article 26
No claims, including for compensation or indemnification or any other claim of this kind, such as a claim of set-off, fines or a claim under a guarantee, claims for extension or payment of a bond, financial guarantee, including claims arising from letters of credit and similar instruments in connection with any contract or transaction the performance of which was affected, directly or indirectly, wholly or in part, by reason of measures covered by this Decision, shall be granted to the designated persons or entities listed in Annexes I and II, or any other person or entity in Syria, including the Government of Syria, its public bodies, corporations and agencies, or any person or entity claiming through or for the benefit of any such person or entity.
Article 27
1. The Council, acting upon a proposal by a Member State or the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, shall establish and amend the lists in Annexes I and II.
2. The Council shall communicate its decision on listing, including the grounds therefor, to the person or entity concerned, either directly, if the address is known, or through the publication of a notice, providing such person or entity with an opportunity to present observations.
3. Where observations are submitted, or where substantial new evidence is presented, the Council shall review its decision and inform the person or entity concerned accordingly.
Article 28
1. Annexes I and II shall include the grounds for listing the persons and entities concerned.
2. Annexes I and II shall also contain, where available, the information necessary to identify the persons or entities concerned. With regard to persons, such information may include names, including aliases, date and place of birth, nationality, passport and identity card numbers, gender, address if known, and function or profession. With regard to entities, such information may include names, place and date of registration, registration number and place of business.
Article 29
It shall be prohibited to participate, knowingly or intentionally, in activities the object or effect of which is to circumvent the prohibitions laid down in this Decision.
Article 30
In order to maximise the impact of the measures set out in this Decision, the Union shall encourage third States to adopt restrictive measures similar to those contained in this Decision.
Article 31
This Decision shall apply until 1 March 2013. It shall be kept under constant review. It shall be renewed, or amended as appropriate, if the Council deems that its objectives have not been met.
Article 32
Decision 2011/782/CFSP is hereby repealed.
Article 33
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.
Done at Brussels, 29 November 2012.