EU foreign ministers approved a package of additional sanctions against Syria on Monday over the bloody crackdown on protests by President Bashar Assad's regime.
The new sanctions close Syria’s access to funds from the European Investment Bank, increase the number of individuals affected by visa and travel bans from 56 to 74, and impose prohibitions on trade.
The EU previously increased sanctions against Syria in October, adding the Commercial Bank of Syria to a list of entities sanctioned and imposed an embargo on crude oil imports from Syria.
On Saturday, the Arab League suspended Syria from the organization and said it would impose harsh economic and political sanctions against Assad’s government.
Last week, Damascus agreed to accept the Arab League peace plan on Syria. Under the plan, Syria would release political prisoners detained during the ongoing conflict, and all military equipment would be removed from urban areas.
Opposition leaders maintain that Syrian authorities continue to use force against "peaceful demonstrations.” According to UN estimates, more than 3,000 people have been killed in Syria since mid-March, when first anti-regime protests began.
