The European Union on Monday decided to renew its sanctions against Syria for three months and said they would amend the measures to provide more non-lethal support and technical assistance for the protection of civilians.
EU Foreign, Ministers meeting in Brussels rejected any attempt to ease the arms embargo so military aid could be funneled to rebels fighting the regime of President Bashar al-Assad.
Britain and France had reportedly pushed to amend the sanctions to provide weapons for rebel forces.
"The Council agreed to renew the restrictive measures against Syria for a further three months, amending them so as to provide greater non-lethal support and technical assistance for the protection of civilians," a statement issued after the meeting said.
The EU “will actively continue the work under way to assess and review, if necessary, the sanctions regime against Syria in order to support and help the opposition,” the statement added.
"Technical assistance and protection of civilians will be easier," French Foreign Minister Laurent Fabius said after the meeting in Brussels.
Many EU governments are apparently concerned any easing of the arms embargo would only inflame the Syrian conflict, and it would be difficult to ensure any equipment reaches the right people.
"There is no shortage of arms in Syria," Luxembourg Foreign Minister Jean Asselborn said before the meeting.
70,000 people are reported to have been killed since the revolt against the Assad regime began in March 2011.