L 54/18 Official Journal of the European Union 28.2.2012 COUNCIL DECISION 2012/123/CFSP of 27 February 2012 amending Decision 2011/523/EU partially suspending the application of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Syrian Arab Republic THE COUNCIL OF THE EUROPEAN UNION, Having regard to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, and in particular Article 207 in conjunction with Article 218(9) thereof, Having regard to the proposal from the European Commission, Whereas: (1) On 18 January 1977, the European Economic Community and the Syrian Arab Republic concluded a Cooperation Agreement () (‘the Cooperation Agreement) to promote overall cooperation with a view to strengthening relations between them. (2)  On 2 September 2011, the Council adopted Decision 2011/523[EU (?) which partially suspends the application of the Cooperation Agreement until the Syrian auth- orities put an end to the systematic violations of human rights and can again be considered as being in compliance with general international law and the prin- ciples which form the basis of the Cooperation Agreement. (3)  Since then, and in view of the further deterioration of the situation in Syria, the Union has adopted further restrictive measures against the Syrian regime (3). (4)  In this regard, the partial suspension of the application of the Cooperation Agreement should continue. In line with the approach set out in Decision 2011/523(EU, the () OJ L 269, 27.9.1978, p. 2. () OJ L 228, 3.9.2011, p. 19. () Council Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 of 18 January 2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (O] L 16, 19.1.2012, p. 1), Council Implementing Regulation (EU) No 55/2012 of 23 January 2012 implementing Article 33(1) of Regulation (EU) No 36/2012 concerning restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria (O] L 19, 24.1.2012, p. 6), Council Implementing Decision 2012/37/CESP of 23 January 2012 imple- menting Decision 2011/782/CFSP concerning restrictive measures against Syria (O] L 19, 24.1.2012, p. 33). suspension should aim at targeting the Syrian authorities, not the people of Syria, and should be limited accord- ingly. Since gold, precious metals and diamonds are products the trade in which benefits in particular the Syrian regime, and which therefore supports its repressive policies, the suspension should be extended so as to apply also to trade in these materials, HAS ADOPTED THIS DECISION: Article 1 The measures listed in the Annex to this Decision shall be added to the Annex to Decision 2011/523/EU. Article 2 This Decision shall be notified to the Syrian Arab Republic. Article 3 This Decision shall enter into force on the day of its publication in the Official Journal of the European Union. Done at Brussels, 27 February 2012. For the Council The President C. ASHTON