The Council today decided to add five members of the Makhlouf family to the list of persons and entities subject to targeted EU restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria.

This decision follows the death of Mohammed Makhlouf in September 2020. Mr Makhlouf – sanctioned by the EU in August 2011 – was a businessman closely associated with the Assad family and with significant ties to the Syrian regime. His death poses the risk that the assets inherited by his family members will be used to support the activities of the Syrian regime, and will flow directly into the regime’s possession, potentially contributing to the regime’s violent repression of the civilian population.

With today’s decision, the list of people and entities subject to sanctions in view of the situation in Syria now includes 292 persons, targeted by both an assets freeze and a travel ban, and 70 entities subject to an assets freeze. In addition, EU persons and entities are forbidden from making funds available to both listed individuals and entities.

Sanctions on Syria were first introduced in 2011 in response to the violent repression of the civilian population by the Assad regime. They also target companies and prominent businessmen benefiting from their ties with the regime and the war economy. Restrictive measures also include a ban on the import of oil, restrictions on certain investments, a freeze of the assets of the Central Bank of Syria held in the EU, and export restrictions on equipment and technology that might be used for internal repression, as well as on equipment and technology for the monitoring or interception of internet or telephone communications.

EU sanctions in Syria are designed to avoid any impact on humanitarian assistance, and therefore aim not to affect the delivery of food, medicines and medical equipment.

The EU keeps developments in the Syrian conflict under constant review and can decide to renew sanctions and amend the list of targeted entities or persons based on developments on the ground.

The EU remains committed to finding a lasting and credible political solution to the conflict in Syria on the basis of the UN Security Council resolution 2254 and of the 2012 Geneva Communiqué.

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SWEDEN, February 21 – I would like to begin by thanking the French presidency for hosting this important conference. And a special thanks to Éric Dupond-Moretti for inviting me to speak.

Twenty years ago, the European Union took its first steps towards a completely new way of cooperating in criminal matters.

The topics of this conference, Eurojust and the European Arrest Warrant, have proved to be very important tools in the fight against serious and cross-border crime.

Eurojust’s valuable work and support to law enforcement agencies cannot be overestimated.

And the European Arrest Warrant has paved the way for cooperation based on the principle of mutual recognition. Over the years, we have adopted several legal acts based on this principle. Some are applied frequently, while others could need a bit more attention.

Cooperation based on this principle is of the utmost importance in the fight against serious and cross-border crime, as well as when it comes to enforcing final decisions and judgments, such as custodial sentences, fines and confiscation orders.

For a well-functioning judicial cooperation, I would like to highlight three aspects that are particularly important.

Firstly, our courts and competent authorities need to be made more aware of the opportunities in this field of cooperation. They must become more familiar with the obligations arising from these legal acts and the case law from the European Court of Justice. This could be done by more information and training.

Secondly, cooperation must be simple and effective. Deadlines must be respected. Language barriers should be removed as far as possible. Standardized procedures and certificates should be developed. Complicated procedures and language barriers can be a reason why certain instruments are applied less than other. We have reached far, but we can do more.

The last, and crucial, aspect is that cooperation presupposes mutual trust. We must respect each other’s differences. But all Member States must also respect the fundamental principles that are the foundation of the European Union. The principles of the rule of law are obviously one of them. And the freedoms and rights of individuals should never be set aside. Every time a decision or a judgment is questioned by an executing authority with reference to fundamental principles, for instance in the EU Charter, is basically a failure. Our aim should be that these questions never arise.

In the last 20 years, a great deal of work has been done. And we should be proud of what we have achieved together. However, we need to continue. A lot of work remains.

For example, we have to expand the field of cooperation. Cyberspace is one such area. Our law enforcement agencies need for electronic evidence cannot be underestimated. Another field is transfer of proceedings. A clear legal framework for such cooperation would give our law enforcement authorities another important tool.

There are many challenges ahead of us. However, I promise that Sweden will contribute to this work in all possible ways, not least through our upcoming presidency.

Once again, thank you for the opportunity to address this conference and its important topics.