Brussels: The European Union listed 13 Syrian officials under the bloc's sanctions list on Tuesday, including influential businessman Rami Makhlouf, a brother of President Bashar Al Assad and the country's intelligence chief.
The measures - asset freezes and travel bans - are part of a package of sanctions that also include an arms embargo which went into effect on Tuesday as part of EU efforts to force Syria to end violence against anti-government protesters.
Makhlouf, a cousin of Al Assad, owns Syria's largest mobile phone company, Syriatel, and several large firms in the construction and oil sectors.
The EU said in its official journal that he "bankrolls (Al Assad's) regime, allowing violence against demonstrators".
In 2008, the United States imposed sanctions against him because of corruption allegations.
The list includes the president's brother, Maher Al Assad, who commands Syria's Republican Guard and is the second most powerful man in Syria.
Also affected is Ali Mamlouk, head of the General Intelligence Service.
