COUNCIL DECISION 2011/628/CFSP
of 23 September 2011
amending Decision 2011/273/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,
Whereas:
(1)
On 9 May 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/273/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria. (1)
(2)
In light of the seriousness of the situation in Syria, the Union has decided to adopt additional restrictive measures against the Syrian regime.
(3)
Investment in key sectors in the oil industry in Syria should be prohibited.
(4)
The delivery of Syrian denominated banknotes and coinage to the Central Bank of Syria should be prohibited.
(5)
Additional persons and entities should be subject to the restrictive measures set out in Decision 2011/273/CFSP.
(6)
The information relating to certain persons on the list in the Annex to that Decision should be updated.
(7)
Decision 2011/273/CFSP should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION:
Article 1
Decision 2011/273/CFSP is hereby amended as follows:
(1)
Article 2b is replaced by the following:
‘Article 2b
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 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;
(c)
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.’;
(2)
The following Articles are added:
‘Article 2c
1. The prohibitions in Article 2a shall be without prejudice to the execution, until 15 November 2011, of obligations provided for in contracts concluded before 2 September 2011.
2. The prohibitions in Article 2b(a) and (b) respectively:
(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.
Article 2d
The delivery of Syrian denominated banknotes and coinage to the Central Bank of Syria shall be prohibited.’;
(3)
Article 4(3)(e) is replaced by the following:
‘(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;’.
Article 2
The persons and entities listed in Annex I to this Decision shall be added to the list set out in the Annex to Decision 2011/273/CFSP.
Article 3
In the Annex to Decision 2011/273/CFSP, the entries for the following persons:
(1)
Emad GHRAIWATI;
(2)
Tarif AKHRAS;
(3)
Issam ANBOUBA,
shall be replaced by the entries set out in Annex II to this Decision.
Article 4
This Decision shall enter into force on the date of its adoption.
Done at Brussels, 23 September 2011.