The European Union stepped up sanctions against Zimbabwe yesterday, in an effort to increase pressure on Robert Mugabe a day after he signed a pact to enter power-sharing talks with the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.

The new embargo identified a further 37 supporters of the regime whose assets will be frozen and who will be subject to a visa ban, preventing them from entering EU territory. For the first time the sanctions will also affect four Zimbabwean companies and aim to close loopholes that have enabled Mr Mugabe to come to Europe almost at will despite being the first name on the travel ban.

Announcing the measures, in protest against June’s widely condemned presidential election run-off, Bernard Kouchner, the French Foreign Minister, said: “It is impossible to accept the result of the second elections when basic democratic rules are being violated. Sanctions have an effect. They are not just for fun.”

The decision to add new names to the 130 already on the sanctions list was taken despite the signing on Monday of a deal between Mr Mugabe and Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, on a framework for talks. The discussions, which were due to begin in South Africa yesterday, got off to a far from auspicious start after the chief representatives for both parties failed to leave Harare. The talks are now unlikely to begin before Thursday.

David Miliband, the Foreign Secretary, said: “The sanctions that we and others are proposing are designed to reinforce the drive for the transitional government to reflect the democratic will of the Zimbabwean people.”

The EU’s decision, which was implemented immediately, has extended the sanctions to four Harare-based companies. They included Zidco Holdings and Jongwe Printing and Publishing Company (PVT) Ltd, which carries out printing and publishing for the ruling Zanu (PF). Also on the list is Cold Comfort Farm Trust Co-operative, which is considered a front for investments outside Zimbabwe, and Zimbabwe Defence Industries.

The individuals added to the visa ban hail largely from the business sector and the military. They include Gideon Gono, governor of the central bank, Joyce Kazembe, the vice-president of the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission, and Peter Chingoka, the head of the country’s cricket federation, who is accused of supporting the terror campaign during the elections. For the first time, two journalists have also been included: Munyaradzi Huni and Caesar Zvayi, both of whom work for the state-run Herald.

Foreign ministers made clear last night that the sanctions could be extended to other individuals and organisations. In the coming weeks the EU will “examine the measures which might be taken against others responsible for violence, and other bodies linked to them”, it said.

In future it will be possible to prevent the visit to Europe by anyone on the banned list unless “on humanitarian grounds”. The EU cannot stop individuals attending UN meetings on its soil but now it will give visas only to the persons directly concerned. Mr Mugabe will be able to attend meetings but his wife will be refused a visa.

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