Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1096 of 27 May 2025 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria

‘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 former al-Assad regime, and persons associated with them, as listed in Annex I.

2 In accordance with the assessments and determinations made by the Council in the context of the situation in Syria as set out in recitals 5 to 12 of Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1836 and recitals 8 to 13 of Council Decision (CFSP) 2025/1096 , Member States shall also take the necessary measures to prevent the entry into, or transit through, their territories of: (a) leading businesspersons operating in Syria linked to the former al-Assad regime; (b) members of the al-Assad or Makhlouf families; (c) Syrian Government Ministers in power between May 2011 and December 2024; (d) members of the Syrian Armed Forces of the rank of “colonel” and the equivalent or higher in post between May 2011 and December 2024; (e) members of the Syrian security and intelligence services in post between May 2011 and December 2024; (f) members of al-Assad regime-affiliated militias; or (g) persons operating in the chemical weapons proliferation sector, and persons associated with them, as listed in Annex I.

‘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 former al-Assad regime, and persons and entities associated with them, as listed in Annex I, shall be frozen.

2 In accordance with the assessments and determinations made by the Council in the context of the situation in Syria as set out in recitals 5 to 12 of Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/1836 and recitals 8 to 13 of Decision (CFSP) 2025/1096, all funds and economic resources belonging to, or owned, held or controlled by: (a) leading businesspersons operating in Syria linked to the former al-Assad regime; (b) members of the al-Assad or Makhlouf families; (c) Syrian Government Ministers in power between May 2011 and December 2024; (d) members of the Syrian Armed Forces of the rank of “colonel” and the equivalent or higher in post between May 2011 and December 2024; (e) members of the Syrian security and intelligence services in post between May 2011 and December 2024; (f) members of al-Assad regime-affiliated militias; or (g) members of entities, units, agencies, bodies or institutions operating in the chemical weapons proliferation sector, and persons and entities associated with them, as listed in Annex I, shall be frozen.’

‘5 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 Annex I.’

‘13 Paragraphs 1, 2 and 5 shall not apply to a transfer, by or through a financial entity listed in Annex I, of frozen funds or economic resources where the transfer is related to a payment by a person or entity not listed in Annex I 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 or 2.’

‘2 The prohibition set out in Article 28(5) shall not apply to funds or economic resources made available to the natural or legal persons and entities listed in Annex I by public bodies, or by legal persons or entities which receive public funding to provide humanitarian relief in Syria or to provide assistance to the civilian population in Syria, where the provision of such funds or economic resources is for the purchase or transport of petroleum products, or associated financing or financial assistance, for the sole purposes of providing humanitarian relief in Syria or to provide assistance to the civilian population in Syria.’

‘5 The prohibition set out in Article 28(5) shall not apply to funds or economic resources made available to the natural or legal persons or entities listed in Annex I by diplomatic or consular missions.’

‘7 By way of derogation from Article 28(1), (2) and (5), the competent authorities 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, to entities listed as Number 42 and Number 43 in “Section B. Entities” in Annex I, under such conditions as they deem appropriate, after having determined that the provision of such funds or economic resources is necessary for the cooperation between those entities and a Member State’s governmental entity or body in the areas of reconstruction, capacity-building, counter-terrorism and migration.

8 In the absence of a negative decision, a request for information or a notification for additional time from the relevant competent authority within five working days of the date of receipt of a request for authorisation under paragraph 7, that authorisation shall be considered granted.

9 The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisations granted under paragraph 7 within four weeks of such authorisation.’

No claims, including for compensation or indemnification or any other such claim, 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 Annex I, 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.’

1 Annex I shall include the grounds for listing the persons and entities concerned.

2 Annex I 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.’

1 This Decision shall apply until 1 June 2026. It shall be kept under constant review. It may be renewed, or amended as appropriate, if the Council deems that its objectives have not been met. The exceptions referred to in Article 28a(1) to (4) as regards Article 28(1), (2) and (5) shall be reviewed at regular intervals, and at least every 12 months, or at the urgent request of any Member State, the High Representative or the Commission following a fundamental change in circumstances.

2 The Council underlines the importance of preventing the violation of the sovereign rights of Member States within their maritime zones in accordance with the law of the sea. At the request of a Member State, any such violation shall immediately trigger a discussion for the amendment of restrictive measures, in the context of the constant review of the restrictive measures.’

This Decision shall enter into force on the day following that of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union.