As the unrest in Syria continues unabated and the number of civilian deaths grows — now over 2,200, according to the United Nations — the international community has begun to increase pressure on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. On Saturday, the European Union instituted a ban on petroleum imports from Syria (although a full ban won’t be instituted until November, as Italy lobbied to allow existing import contracts be fulfilled).

The United States has already instituted its own oil ban, but the EU’s actions will likely have a more significant effect on Syria’s economy. While the United States does not directly receive any Syrian oil, according to the International Energy Agency, Syria exports about 150,000 barrels of oil a day to Europe. Oil exports make up about one-third of Syria’s export income.

The French Foreign Ministry has also indicated that EU may not be done expanding sanctions, as it could target individuals and companies connected with human rights abuses. With the conflict in Libya appearing to be headed toward a positive resolution, the situation in Syria could be the new focus of European and American attention.

The rhetorical pressure on Syria has also increased recently, as United Nations Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon said during a visit to New Zealand that it is time for the international community to unite and take “coherent measures” on Syria. Although the UN Human Rights Council recently voted to dispatch an international commission of inquiry to Syria (see the September 2011 issue of International Debates, Syria Crackdown), attempts by the UN Security Council to act have thus far been blocked by permanent members China and Russia.

“We have always said that unilateral sanctions will do no good,” Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov is quoted by a Russian news service as saying on Saturday. “This destroys a partnership approach to any crisis. … Sanctions rarely solve anything in general.”