Council Regulation (EU) No 1332/2013 of 13 December 2013 amending Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

14.12.2013 EN Official Journal of the European Union L 335/3
COUNCIL REGULATION (EU) No 1332/2013
of 13 December 2013
amending Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria
THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION
,
Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 215 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures against Syria (1),
Having regard to the joint proposal from the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the European Commission,
Whereas:
(1) On 13 December 2013 the Council adopted Decision 2013/760/CFSP (2) amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP.
(2) Derogation from the prohibition of financing and financial assistance relating to certain goods and technology should be provided with regard to activities undertaken by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) in accordance with paragraph 10 of United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2118(2013).
(3) In order to facilitate the safe return to their legitimate owners of goods constituting Syrian cultural heritage which have been illegally removed from Syria, it is necessary to provide for additional restrictive measures in order to prohibit the import, export or transfer of such goods.
(4) Derogation from the freezing of funds or economic resources necessary for humanitarian assistance should only be granted if funds or economic resources are released to the UN for the purpose of delivering such assistance in accordance with the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP). When considering requests for authorisation, competent authorities should take into account the humanitarian principles of humanity, neturality, impartiality and independence as set out in the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.
(5) It is necessary to provide for an additional derogation from the asset freeze and the prohibition of making funds or economic resources available in order to allow transfers by a non-designated person or entity to a non-designated person or entity, through a designated entity, in connection with a specific trade contract for medical supplies, food, shelter, sanitation or hygiene for civilian use.
(6) The abovementioned measures fall within the scope of the Treaty and, therefore, in particular with a view to ensuring their uniform application by economic operators in all Member States, action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement them.
(7) Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 (3) should therefore be amended accordingly,