As anticipated in its press release, the EU yesterday published in the Official Journal the first legal instruments underpinning its decision to progressively suspend its sanctions against Syria: Decision 2025/406/CFSP, Council Regulation 2025/407 and Council Implementing Regulation 2025/408. The measures include the suspension of a significant number of sanctions which have been in place for over a decade, most recently contained within Council Regulation 36/2012, as summarised below. Companies considering business in Syria previously restricted…
On May 12, 2022, the US Treasury Department’s Office of Foreign Assets Control (“OFAC”) issued Syria General License No. 22 (“GL 22”), authorizing certain activities in particular sectors of the Syrian economy that are otherwise prohibited under the Syrian Sanctions Regulations (31 CFR Part 542, “SSR”) in specified regions of Syria not controlled by the Assad regime. According to the US Statement Department’s press release, GL 22 was issued in support of the Biden Administration’s…
On 14 October, the United States and European Union each adopted sanctions measures targeting Turkey, in response to Turkey’s military offensive in northern Syria. Subject to certain exceptions discussed further below, the US measures under a new Syria-related Executive Order (“New Syria EO“) took effect immediately and authorize sanctions targeting parties engaging in certain Syria-related activities, the Government of Turkey and Turkish Government officials, and certain sectors of the Turkish economy.
The EU measures are expected to come into effect shortly.