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The Syrian Arab Republic and the European Union (EU) have signed two agreements between each other. However, due to the Syrian government's crack down on its opposition, the EU is imposing an embargo on Syria. The EU has begun to support the opposition Syrian National Council and calls for the present government to stand down.
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In March 2012, two EU member states, namely Italy and the Netherlands, closed their embassies in Damascus.
Agreements
In 1977 the EU and Syria signed a Cooperation Agreement which governs relations. Syria is also a part of the EU's Union for the Mediterranean (and previously the Barcelona Process) and the European Neighbourhood Policy - but does not fully benefit pending the application of the EU-Syria Association Agreement which was signed in 2009.
Trade
The EU is Syria's largest trading partner with €3.6 billion worth of EU goods exports to Syria and €3.5 billion of Syrian exports to the EU. Total trade was worth €7.18 billion in 2010 and the EU is Syria's largest trading partner with 22.5% of its trade (Syria is the EU's 50th).