THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION,
Having regard to the Treaty on European Union, and in particular Article 29 thereof,
Having regard to Council Decision 2013/255/CFSP of 31 May 2013 concerning restrictive measures against Syria(1),
Whereas:
(1) On 31 May 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/255/CFSP.
(2) It is necessary to introduce in Decision 2013/255/CFSP exemptions enabling Member States to provide support to the activities undertaken by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) for the elimination of the chemical weapons in Syria in accordance with paragraph 10 of the United Nations (UN) Security Council Resolution 2118(2013).
(3) It is also necessary to apply restrictions to trade in goods belonging to Syria's cultural heritage which have been illegally removed from Syria with the objective of facilitating the safe return of those goods.
(4) The exemption, under Decision 2013/255/CFSP, from the asset freeze for humanitarian purposes should be amended in order to facilitate the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Syria and to avoid the risk of misuse of released funds or economic resources. In this context, funds should be released to the UN for the purpose of delivering assistance in Syria in accordance with the Syria Humanitarian Assistance Response Plan (SHARP).
(5) In addition, it is necessary to add an exemption under the asset freeze to allow the processing of payments by or to a non-designated person or entity due in connection with a specific trade contract for medical supplies, food, shelter, sanitation or hygiene for civilian use.
(6) Further action by the Union is needed in order to implement certain measures.
(7) Decision 2013/255/CFSP should be amended accordingly,
HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: