CHAPTER I

EXPORT AND IMPORT RESTRICTIONS
Article 1
1
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 products which could be used for internal repression, to Syria by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be prohibited, whether originating or not in their territories.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this paragraph.
2
It shall be prohibited to:
a
provide, directly or indirectly, technical assistance, brokering services or other services related to the items referred to in paragraph 1 or related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of such items, to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria;
b
provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance related to the items referred to in paragraph 1, including in particular grants, loans and export credit insurance, as well as insurance and reinsurance, for any sale, supply, transfer or export of such items, or for the provision of related technical assistance, brokering services or other services to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria.
3
Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the sale, supply, transport or export of certain equipment, goods and technology which might be used for internal repression or for the manufacture and maintenance of products which could be used for internal repression or to the provision of related technical or financial assistance, where a Member State determines on a case-by-case basis that they are intended for:
a
food, agricultural, medical or other humanitarian purposes, or for the benefit of UN Personnel, or personnel of the Union or its Member States; or
b
activities undertaken in accordance with paragraph 10 of United Nations Security Council Resolution 2118(2013) and related decisions of the Executive Council of the OPCW, consistent with the objective of the Convention on the Prohibition of the Development, Production, Stockpiling and Use of Chemical Weapons and on their Destruction (Chemical Weapons Convention) and after consultation with the OPCW.
Article 2
1
The sale, supply, transfer or export of certain equipment, goods or technology other than those referred to in Article 1(1) which might be used for internal repression or for the manufacture and maintenance of products which could be used for internal repression, to Syria by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be subject to authorisation on a case-by-case basis by the competent authorities of the exporting Member State.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this paragraph.
2
The provision of:
a
technical assistance, brokering services or other services related to the items referred to in paragraph 1 or related to the provision, manufacture, maintenance and use of such items, to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria;
b
financing or financial assistance related to the items referred to in paragraph 1, including in particular grants, loans and export credit insurance, as well as insurance and reinsurance, for any sale, supply, transfer or export of such items, or for the provision of related technical assistance, brokering services or other services to any natural or legal person, entity or body in, or for use in, Syria,
shall also be subject to an authorisation of the competent authority of the exporting Member State.
Article 3
1
The purchase, import or transport of arms and related material of all types, including weapons and ammunition, military vehicles and equipment, paramilitary equipment and spare parts for the aforementioned, from Syria or originating in Syria, shall be prohibited.
2
It shall be prohibited to provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance, including financial derivatives, as well as insurance and reinsurance, and brokering services related to insurance and reinsurance, for any purchase, import or transport of the items referred to in paragraph 1, from Syria or originating in Syria.
3
Paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the import or transport of chemical weapons or related material from Syria or originating in Syria, undertaken in accordance with paragraph 10 of UN Security Council Resolution 2118(2013) and related decisions of the Executive Council of the OPCW, consistent with the objective of the Chemical Weapons Convention.
Article 4
The sale, supply, transfer or export of equipment or software intended primarily for use in the monitoring or interception by the Syrian regime, or on its behalf, of the Internet and of telephone communications on mobile or fixed networks in Syria and the provision of assistance to install, operate or update such equipment or software shall be prohibited.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
Article 5
1
The purchase, import or transport from Syria of crude oil and petroleum products shall be prohibited.
2
It shall be prohibited to provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance, including financial derivatives, as well as insurance and reinsurance, related to the prohibitions referred to in paragraph 1.
3
The prohibitions set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the purchase or transport in Syria of petroleum products or to associated financing or financial assistance by public bodies, or by legal persons or entities which receive public funding from the Union or Member States to provide humanitarian relief in Syria or to provide assistance to the civilian population in Syria, where such products are purchased or transported for the sole purposes of providing humanitarian relief in Syria or to provide assistance to the civilian population in Syria.
4
The prohibitions set out in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to the purchase or transport of petroleum products by diplomatic or consular missions where such products are purchased or transported for official purposes of the mission.
Article 6
1
With a view to helping the civilian population in Syria in cases not covered by Article 5(3) and by way of derogation from Article 5(1) and (2), the competent authorities of a Member State may authorise, on the general and specific terms and conditions they deem appropriate, the purchase or transport in Syria of petroleum products and the provision of associated financing or financial assistance, provided that the following conditions are met:
a
the activities concerned are for the sole purpose of providing humanitarian relief in Syria or assistance to the civilian population in Syria; and
b
the activities concerned do not breach any of the prohibitions laid down in this Decision.
2
The Member State concerned shall inform the other Member States and the Commission of any authorisation granted under this Article within two weeks of any authorisation granted. For an authorisation granted under paragraph 1, the notification shall contain details about the authorised entity and about its humanitarian activities in Syria.
Article 7
The prohibitions in Article 5 shall be without prejudice to the execution, until 15 November 2011, of obligations provided for in contracts concluded before 2 September 2011.
Article 7a
1
The sale, supply, transfer or export of jet fuel and additives specifically formulated for jet fuel to Syria by nationals of Member States, or from the territories of Member States, or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be prohibited, whether originating or not in their territories.
2
It shall be prohibited to provide, directly or indirectly, financing or financial assistance, as well as insurance and reinsurance or brokering services, related to any sale, supply, transfer or export of jet fuel and additives as referred to in paragraph 1.
3
The competent authorities of a Member State may authorise the sale, supply, transfer or export of jet fuel and additives to Syria or the provision of direct or indirect financing, financial assistance, insurance, reinsurance or brokering services, necessary for use by the United Nations or bodies acting on its behalf for humanitarian purposes such as delivering or facilitating the delivery of assistance, including medical supplies, food, or the transfer of humanitarian workers and related assistance or for evacuations from Syria or within Syria.
4
The prohibitions in paragraphs 1 and 2 shall not apply to jet fuel and additives exclusively used by non-Syrian civilian aircraft landing in Syria, provided that they are intended and used solely for the continuation of the flight operation of the aircraft into which they were loaded.
5
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
Article 8
1
The sale, supply or transfer of key equipment and technology for the following key sectors of the oil and natural gas industry in Syria, or to Syrian or Syrian-owned enterprises engaged in those sectors outside Syria, by nationals of Member States, or from the territories of Member States, or using vessels or aircraft under the jurisdiction of Member States shall be prohibited whether or not originating in their territories:
a
refining;
b
liquefied natural gas;
c
exploration;
d
production.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this paragraph.
2
It shall be prohibited to provide the following to enterprises in Syria that are engaged in the key sectors of the Syrian oil and gas industry referred to in paragraph 1 or to Syrian, or Syrian-owned enterprises engaged in those sectors outside Syria:
a
technical assistance or training and other services related to key equipment and technology as referred to in paragraph 1;
b
financing or financial assistance for any sale, supply, transfer or export of key equipment and technology as set out in paragraph 1 or for the provision of related technical assistance or training.
Article 9
1
The prohibition in Article 8(1) shall be without prejudice to the execution of an obligation relating to the delivery of goods provided for in contracts awarded or concluded before 1 December 2011.
2
The prohibitions in Article 8 shall be without prejudice to the execution of an obligation arising from contracts awarded or concluded before 1 December 2011 and relating to investments made in Syria before 23 September 2011 by enterprises established in Member States.
Article 10
With a view to helping the Syrian civilian population, in particular to meeting humanitarian concerns, restoring normal life, upholding basic services, reconstruction, and restoring normal economic activity or other civilian purposes and by way of derogation from Article 8(1) and (2), the competent authorities of a Member State may authorise the sale, supply or transfer of key equipment and technology for the key sectors of the oil and natural gas industry in Syria referred to in Article 8(1), or to Syrian or Syrian-owned enterprises engaged in those sectors outside Syria and the provision of related technical assistance or training and other services, as well as financing or financial assistance, provided that the following conditions are met:
1. the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces has been consulted in advance by the Member State concerned;
2. the activities concerned are not directly or indirectly for the benefit of a person or entity referred to in Article 28(1); and
3. the activities concerned do not breach any of the prohibitions laid down in this Decision.
The relevant Member State shall inform the other Member States of any authorisation granted under this Article.
Article 11
The delivery of Syrian denominated banknotes and coinage to the Central Bank of Syria shall be prohibited.
Article 12
The direct or indirect sale, purchase, transportation or brokering of gold and precious metals, as well as of diamonds to, from or for the Government of Syria, its public bodies, corporations and agencies, the Central Bank of Syria, as well as to, from or for persons and entities acting on their behalf or at their direction, or entities owned or controlled by them, shall be prohibited.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
Article 13
The sale, supply, transfer or export of luxury goods to Syria by nationals of Member States or from the territories of Member States or using their flag vessels or aircraft, shall be prohibited, whether originating or not in their territories.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
Article 13a
It shall be prohibited to import, export, transfer or provide related brokering services for cultural property and other items of archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific and religious importance which have been illegally removed from Syria, or where reasonable suspicion exists that they have been illegally removed from Syria, on or after
15 March 2011
. The prohibition shall not apply if it is shown that the cultural items are being safely returned to their legitimate owners in Syria.
The Union shall take the necessary measures in order to determine the relevant items to be covered by this Article.
Substituted by Council Decision 2013/760/CFSP of 13 December 2013 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria.
Inserted by Council Decision 2013/760/CFSP of 13 December 2013 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria.
Inserted by Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2144 of 6 December 2016 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria.
Substituted by Council Decision (CFSP) 2016/2144 of 6 December 2016 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria.
Inserted by Council Decision 2014/901/CFSP of 12 December 2014 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria.
Substituted by Council Decision (CFSP) 2015/837 of 28 May 2015 amending Decision 2013/255/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria.