Malta yesterday gave its consent for the EU to stiffen its sanctions against the Gaddafi regime.

A spokesman for the government said the sanctions, which will include an assets freeze of Libya’s National Oil Corporation and the addition of more Gaddafi loyalists in the travel ban and assets freeze list, were approved unanimously yesterday by the 27 member states.

Asked whether these new sanctions will have any effect on Maltese business, the spokesman declined to comment.

Details of the new sanctions are expected to be announced on Monday following a meeting of EU Foreign Affairs Ministers in Brussels.

Last week Malta managed to prevent a total freeze of Libyan assets in Europe, which would have had a severe impact on many Maltese businesses, including companies like the Corinthia group, which owns and manages several luxury hotels around Europe.

Following Malta’s initiative, a compromise was found so the assets freeze will only be enforced on the Libyan part of the shareholding, allowing the companies involved to carry on with their business while withholding the payment of any dividends to their Libyan partners.

Speaking yesterday following the approval of the UN Security Council resolution authorising a no-fly zone, the EU’s Foreign Policy chief Catherine Ashton said that in addition to diplomatic efforts, the EU was studying how military assets of member states could be used to boost humanitarian aid to people fleeing the fighting.