(1)

On 31 May 2013, the Council adopted Decision 2013/255/CFSP (1)and on 18 January 2012, it adopted Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 (2) pursuant to the adoption of conclusions in which the Council condemned the violence and widespread and systematic gross violations of human rights in Syria.

(2)

The tragic earthquake of 6 February 2023 exacerbated the already dire conditions in the country and increased the suffering of the Syrian population.

(3)

In its conclusions of 9 February 2023, the European Council reaffirmed the Union’s readiness to provide further assistance to alleviate the suffering in all affected regions. It called on all parties to the conflict to ensure humanitarian access to the victims of the earthquake in Syria irrespective of where they are located and called on the humanitarian community, under the auspices of the United Nations, to ensure the speedy delivery of aid.

(4)

Union restrictive measures, including those adopted in view of the situation in Syria, are not meant to impede the supply of humanitarian aid to individuals in need. Trade in the majority of sectors between the Union and Syria, including in food and medicines. is not restricted by the restrictive measures adopted by the Council in view of the situation in Syria. Moreover, as regards individual measures, exceptions are in place to allow for funds and economic resources to be made available to designated persons and entities, where such funds or economic resources are necessary solely for the purpose of providing humanitarian relief in Syria or assistance to the civilian population in Syria. In certain cases, prior authorisation from the relevant national competent authority is necessary.

(5)

On 23 February 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/408 (3) and Regulation (EU) 2023/407 (4), which introduced an exemption to the freezing of the assets of, and to the restrictions on making funds and economic resources available to, designated natural or legal persons and entities. The Council decided that exemption should apply for the benefit of international organisations and certain defined categories of actors involved in humanitarian activities and for an initial period of six months until 24 August 2023. On 14 July 2023, the Council adopted Decision (CFSP) 2023/1467 (5) and Regulation (EU) 2023/1462 (6), which prolonged that exemption until 24 February 2024.

(6)

In order to respond to the continuing urgency of the humanitarian crisis in Syria, which has been exacerbated by the earthquake, and with a view to facilitating the rapid delivery of aid and providing predictability and legal certainty for certain defined categories of actors involved in humanitarian activities in Syria benefiting from the exemption adopted in Decision (CFSP) 2023/408 and Regulation (EU) 2023/407, it is appropriate to prolong that exemption until 1 June 2024, in line with the current end date of the application of Decision 2013/255/CFSP.

(7)

The amendments included in this Regulation fall within the scope of the Treaty and therefore regulatory action at the level of the Union is necessary in order to implement them, in particular with a view to ensuring their uniform application in all Member States.

(8)

Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 should therefore be amended accordingly,