Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy said in a statement on Sunday that the European Union is imposing additional sanctions on the Syrian regime.

Ashton mentioned her previous warnings that the regime must stop completely and must immediately release incarcerated demonstrators. Moreover, Ashton reiterated previous calls by the EU for the Assad regime to hold a genuine national dialogue.

Due to the failure of the Syrian regime to carry out such measures, the statement said it was necessary to take additional sanctions, including an investment ban in the Syrian oil sector and adding more people associated with the government’s crackdown to be subject to travel bans and asset freezes.

UN figures estimate the number of casualties falling victim to the Syrian regime’s repressive crackdown to be over 2,600 in the past six months.

The Syrian army continues sweeping through towns and cities carrying out detentions and dispersing anti-government protests.