European luxury in Syria is over...

(BRUSSELS2) It took two months for European experts to finalize the sanctions decided by the Ministers of Foreign Affairs on 23rd April last. The European Union has indeed adopted today (Friday 15 June) in the Environment Council, under point A, the strengthening of sanctions against Syria prohibiting the export of luxury products and certain "dual-use" products that can be used in repression. Published in the official journal tomorrow (Saturday), the sanctions will be effective from June 17.

The list of luxury products prohibited from export concerns, according to the list that we have been able to consult: cigars and cigarillos (over €10); caviar (over 20 euros for 100g); wines - including sparkling wines - and eaux-de-vie (over €50 per litre), leather goods, luggage, handbags (over €200); clothes and shoes (over €600); jewelery and jewellery, pearls and silverware; vehicles (over €15 used or €000 new); planes and boats, purebred horses...

As far as "dual-use" products are concerned, these include protective equipment (gas masks, bullet-proof vests), chemical products as well as those used in their manufacture or storage, but also certain viruses or other bacteria.

« In the current situation, the EU must maintain pressure on the Syrian regime commented EU High Representative Catherine Ashton in a statement. " These sanctions target those responsible for the appalling repression and violence directed against the civilian population. The decisions we have taken today have been carefully weighed so that they do not affect the Syrian people, whom we strongly support in these trying times.”.

See the draft text of the sanctions which will be published in the OJ in the B2 docs.