In view of the step up of violent crackdown against peaceful protesters in Syria, High Representative Catherine Ashton has noted in a formal statement on behalf of the EU, the complete loss of Bashar al-Assad's legitimacy in the eyes of the Syrian people and the
necessity for him to step aside.

The European Union has repeatedly emphasised that the brutal repression must be stopped, detained protesters released, free access by international humanitarian and human rights organizations and media allowed, and a genuine and inclusive national dialogue launched . Increase in violence and large-scale use of military force in the cities of Hama, Deir al-Zour and Lattakia show that President Bashar al-Assad promises of reform have lost all credibility as reforms cannot succeed under permanent repression.

In order to react to these developments, the European Union is proceeding to further action, including the addition of further names to the list of those targeted by EU restrictive measures on Syria, visa ban and assets freeze adopted by the Council in May 2011, as well as further restrictive measures that will broaden its sanctions against the Syrian regime.

Furthermore in order to take coordinated action against Syrian repressive regime, the European Union has called for a Special Session of the United Nations Human Rights Council to study the situation in Syria. All these efforts aim to assist the Syrian people to achieve their legitimate aspirations.