European Union renews Syria measures targeting former al-Assad regime
Date of publication: May 21, 2026
The Council of the European Union has renewed for one year the EU's restrictive measures targeting individuals and entities linked to the former al-Assad regime in Syria, following its annual review of the sanctions regime and in line with the EU's ongoing support for Syria's peaceful and inclusive transition.
The new measures
:- Renew until 1 June 2027 the existing restrictive measures targeting individuals and entities linked to the former al-Assad regime in Syria.
- Removed seven entities from the sanctions list, including the Syrian Ministries of Defence and Interior, to support the strengthening of the EU's engagement with Syria.
Those designated remain subject to an asset freeze, and EU citizens and companies are prohibited from making funds available to them, while listed individuals are also subject to a travel ban preventing entry into or transit through EU member states.
Since first introducing restrictive measures in 2011 in response to the violent repression of civilians by the al-Assad regime, the EU has progressively adjusted its Syria sanctions framework, including lifting all economic sanctions (other than those based on security grounds) in May 2025 to support Syria's transition, recovery and reconstruction, while maintaining targeted measures and security-based sanctions against networks linked to the former regime that are considered to still pose risks to the transition process.
Conclusion
These measures adjust the EU's Syria sanctions framework by refining the list of designated persons and entities and updating the underlying CFSP legal basis. Companies should review their restricted party screening and sanctions compliance controls to reflect the removal of seven entities, the amended entries for 11 individuals, and the related CFSP decisions cited above.
These changes have been updated in ONESOURCE Global Trade Content. For more information on how ONESOURCE Global Trade solutions can assist you in managing restricted party screening, please contact your Account Manager or Customer Success Manager.