Bern, 23 August 2023
On 23 August 2023, the Federal Council decided to extend by six months the temporary humanitarian exemption to the sanctions regime against Syria that was introduced after the earthquake that struck the country in February. The exemption now applies until 11 March 2024.
In light of the grave humanitarian crisis in Syria, which was worsened by the earthquake, the EU amended its measures against Syria on 23 February 2023, introducing an initial six-month humanitarian exemption for international organisations and certain categories of humanitarian actor. On 17 July the EU extended the exemption for another six months to continue to facilitate the rapid delivery of humanitarian aid.
The Federal Council decided on 10 March 2023 to include the EU’s temporary humanitarian exemption in the ordinance on measures against Syria, also for an initial period of six months. The exemption means that targeted financial sanctions do not apply to activities necessary for the humanitarian work of international organisations and some categories of humanitarian actors. The Federal Council’s decision extends this exemption for another six months, until 11 March 2024.
The humanitarian exceptions adopted by the Federal Council on 3 March 2023 are not affected by this decision, as they apply indefinitely.
The Federal Council adopted initial sanctions against Syria on 18 May 2011, thus aligning Switzerland with the EU measures against Syria adopted on 9 May 2011. It subsequently amended the ordinance on measures against Syria several times to reflect the EU’s decisions.
Source – Swiss Government