European Union foreign ministers agreed Monday to add 18 Syrian officials to an existing sanctions blacklist, in response to a continuing bloody crackdown on the opposition by the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, dpa reported.
Ministers "added eighteen more persons responsible for human rights violations to the list of those targeted by an asset freeze and travel ban," an EU statement said.
In addition, existing loans and technical assistance agreements between Syria and the European Investment Bank were frozen.
Monday's decision, due to enter into force Tuesday, takes to 74 the number of Syrian officials targeted by EU sanctions. A freeze on EU-held assets is equally in place for 19 Syrian entities. Tuesday also marks the day when a previously agreed ban on foreign oil investment becomes effective.