On 18 May, the General Court of the EU dismissed Rami Makhlouf’s annulment application for his listing on the EU’s restrictive measures targeting Syria. The General Court did so on the basis that he is a member of the Makhlouf family, has close ties to and supports the Assad regime, and is an influential businessman in Syria.

Rami Makhlouf’s annulment application was also unsuccessful owing to the fact that the EU’s sanctions against Syria include influential businessmen in Syria and members of the Makhlouf or Assad families as criteria, which constitute the basis on which the EU includes individuals for designation.