EU Expected to Tighten Sanctions on Syria, Iran
EU Expected to Tighten Sanctions on Syria
The European Union is expected to apply sanctions on Syria to more individuals, while also tightening measures in response to Iran’s nuclear policy, at a meeting of foreign ministers next week, senior EU sources said Thursday, DPA reported.
Rather than applying new sanctions on the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, member states have agreed to extend the existing measures to around 20 additional individuals and two entities, a source said on condition of anonymity.
The ministers are also expected to discuss humanitarian assistance to civilians, regional implications of the Syrian conflict and efforts to forge unity among Syria’s fractured opposition, during their talks in Luxembourg on Monday.
Ahead of the meeting, EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton was to meet Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov for an informal dinner late Sunday.
But no progress was expected on the ongoing differences with Russia over Syria, whose regime still enjoys Moscow’s support, the source said.