EU Council set to end Syria economic sanctions
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The Council of the European Union lifts all economic sanctions on Syria except those based on security grounds, delisting 24 entities including the Central Bank of Syria.
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A man greets trucks carrying displaced families as they return to their village after more than five years in the Atmeh camps near the Syrian-Turkish border, in Kafr Sijna, south of Idlib, Syria, Sunday, May 18, 2025 (AP)
The Council of the European Union approved the decision to remove the economic sanctions imposed on Syria, according to RIA Novosti on Wednesday.
"The Council has adopted legal acts lifting all economic restrictive measures on Syria, except those based on security grounds," the EU council said in a statement.
The council also delisted 24 Syrian entities, including the Central Bank of Syria as well as companies involved in oil production and refining, cotton, and telecommunications, from its blacklist, according to the statement.
Last week, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated that the bloc was lifting economic sanctions against Syria intending to assist the Syrian people in rebuilding a new, inclusive, and peaceful Syria, a move that follows US President Donald Trump's earlier pledge during his Middle East trip to remove US sanctions from the country.
On December 8, 2024, Syria's armed opposition took control of Damascus, leading to President Assad's resignation and departure from the country, followed by the declaration of armed opposition leader Ahmed Al-Sharaa as transitional president in January and the formation of a new cabinet in March.
US lifts comprehensive sanctions on Syria
On May 24, the United States removed its comprehensive economic sanctions on Syria, paving the way for foreign investment and reconstruction initiatives in the wake of the fall of the Bashar al-Assad government.
The decision officially implements a move previously signaled by US President Donald Trump during his regional tour, which included discussions with Turkish and Saudi officials, as Trump characterized the sanctions as "brutal and crippling" while explaining that their elimination came in response to appeals from regional allies pushing for stability and recovery efforts in Syria following the conflict.
“Syria must continue to work towards becoming a stable country that is at peace, and today’s actions will hopefully put the country on a path to a bright, prosperous, and stable future,” the US Secretary of the Treasury said.
According to the US Treasury, the relief is contingent upon Syria preventing the use of its territory as "safe haven for terrorist organizations" and ensuring protections for ethnic and religious minorities.
Although the Trump administration’s decision has received cautious praise from some Western analysts and Arab governments, others have raised concerns over the speed of reintegration and the risks of premature economic normalization.
Still, proponents argue that reconstruction is critical to regional stability and that continued sanctions would only prolong humanitarian suffering.
