EU court voids sanctions on former Syrian minister

Mohamad Nedal Alchaar travel ban and asset freeze lifted

By AP 3 July 2014, 4:51 pm

Edit

Syria's Foreign Minister Walid Moallem speaks during a press conference on August 25, 2014 in Damascus. (photo credit: AFP/STR)

BRUSSELS — A European Union court has voided sanctions imposed by the 28-nation bloc on Syria’s former economy minister.

The EU’s General Court said Thursday a travel ban and asset freeze imposed on Mohamad Nedal Alchaar cannot be upheld only on grounds that he briefly served as a Syrian government minister.

The Luxembourg-based court found the sanctions were justified without individual proof while he was in office but they couldn’t be upheld without providing specific details on his involvement after he left the government in June 2012.

Alchaar was targeted by the EU because of alleged ties to “the Syrian regime and its violent repression against the civilian population” but the court found EU governments failed to provide such evidence.

The EU can file an appeal against the decision within two months.