Syria is currently under UN, EU and League of Arab States arms embargoes.
Syria has been under UN arms embargo since September 2013 (Resolution 2118 (2013)). The measures have not been amended to date.
Prohibitions
The current sanctions regime, as detailed in Resolution 2118 (2013), reaffirms that, in the Syrian context, Member States are prohibited from providing any form of support to non-State actors related to nuclear, chemical or biological weapons and their means of delivery, in accordance with Resolution 1540 (2004). Member States, in particular those neighboring the Syrian Arab Republic, are requested to report any violations of this prohibition to the Security Council immediately (Resolution 2118 (2013), para. 18).
Moreover, “all Member States shall prohibit the procurement of chemical weapons, related equipment, goods and technology or assistance from the Syrian Arab Republic” (Resolution 2118 (2013), para. 20).
Exceptions
Not requiring any prior approval from or notification to the UN bodies:
Others
The UN arms embargo is indefinite.
Syria is also under League of Arab States’ and EU embargoes.
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Syria has been under EU embargo since May 2011 (Council Decision 2011/273/CFSP). Sanctions were first strengthened from January 2012 onwards. But in April 2013, they were eased in order to facilitate support to the Syrian opposition and almost lifted in June of that same year.
Prohibitions
The current sanctions regime, as detailed in the updated versions of Council Decision 2013/2055/CFSP and Regulation 36/2012, prohibits the sale, supply, transfer or export of certain equipment, goods and technology, which might be used for internal repression or for the manufacture and maintenance of these products, or services related to these items, to Syria.
Operations concerning items listed in Annex I A of Regulation 36/2012 (Regulation 36/2012, art. 2a, para. 1), including the provision of technical assistance, brokering services, financing or financial assistance related to these goods are prohibited (Regulation 36/2012, art. 3, para. 1). The list of these items is not exhaustive and Member States may prohibit or impose authorization requirement on other products that those already listed if they deem appropriate.
In addition, operations related to software identified in Annex V of Regulation 36/2012, including the provision of technical assistance, brokering services, financing and financial assistance related to these operations, are prohibited in principle (Regulation 36/2012, art. 4, para. 1 and art. 5).
Similarly, the provision of any telecommunication or internet monitoring or interception services of any kind to, or for the direct or indirect benefit of, the State of Syria, or any person or entity acting on their behalf or at their direction is prohibited in principle (Regulation 36/2012, art. 5, para. 1, c). Whatever the items, Member States may not grant any authorization if they have reasonable grounds to determine that “the equipment, technology or software in question would be used for monitoring or interception, by the Syrian regime or on its behalf, of internet or telephone communications in Syria.” (Regulation 36/2012, art. 4, para. 2 and art. 5, para. 1).
Moreover, the sanctions regime requires Member States to approve in advance any operations related to items which might be used for internal repression, as listed in Annex IX of Regulation 36/2012 (Regulation 36/2012, art. 2b, para. 1), including the provision of technical assistance, brokering services, financing or financial assistance related to these items (Regulation 36/2012, art. 3, para. 4). This list is however not exhaustive and Member States may prohibit or impose an authorization requirement on other goods if they have “reasonable grounds to determine that [these items] might be used for internal repression or for the manufacture and maintenance [of these products]” (Regulation 36/2012, art. 2b, para. 2).
Finally, Member-States may expand the sanctions provisions (prohibitions or prior authorization) to dual-use items referred to in Article 4 (2) or Regulation 428/2009 concerning the control of operations related to dual-use goods (Regulation 36/2012, art. 2d).
Exceptions
The arms embargo provides for several exceptions.
Not requiring any prior approval from or notification to the UN bodies:
Others
Although arms exports to Syria are no longer covered in the current embargo, Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP reminds Member States of their engagement to solely respect conditions and criteria’s listed in Common Position 2008/944/CFSP if they consider such exports.
Furthermore, the sanctions regime prohibits Member States from purchasing, importing or transporting arms and related material of all types, from Syria or originating in Syria or to provide financing or financial assistance related to these items. It does not cover operations in support of the objective of elimination of chemical weapons in Syria in which States participate pursuant to the 10th paragraph of Resolution 2118 (2013) of the Security Council (See UN arms embargo).
Sanctions provided for in Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP have been extended to June 1st 2022 and are regularly reviewed.
Syria is also under UN and The League of Arab States’ embargoes.
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Council Decision (CFSP) 2021/855
Council Decision 2011/273/CFSP
Link:
Web page for EU Sanctions and restrictive measures
Syria has been under The League of Arab States’ embargo since December 2011 (Statement of The League of Arab States of 3rd December 2011). This embargo has not been amended to date.
Prohibitions
The Ministerial Committee of the League of Arab States decides in its statement to prohibit all arms exports to Syria from Member-States.
Others
Syria is also under UN and EU sanctions.
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