Six EU members advocate for temporary suspension of Syria sanctions
3 Min Read
EU foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the potential relaxation of sanctions on Syria during a meeting in Brussels on January 27.
-
Flags of European Union member countries flap in the wind outside the European Parliament in Strasbourg, France, Wednesday, Nov. 27, 2024 (AP Photo/Jean-Francois Badias)
Six European Union member states have urged the bloc to temporarily suspend certain sanctions on Syria, specifically in areas such as transport, energy, and banking, Reuters reported on Monday, citing a document.
EU foreign ministers are scheduled to discuss the potential relaxation of sanctions on Syria during a meeting in Brussels on January 27.
The reassessment of European policy toward Damascus follows the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad by armed factions led by the Islamist group Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is designated as a terrorist organization by the United States, the United Nations, and the majority of other countries.
The document, endorsed by Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland, and Denmark, stated that the EU "should immediately begin adjusting our sanctions regime."
However, the paper cautioned that if Syria fails to meet the EU's expectations regarding human rights and minority protections, further sanctions may remain in place, and previously lifted measures could be reinstated through a snapback mechanism.
Last week, the United States issued a six-month sanctions exemption for transactions with Syrian governing institutions to facilitate humanitarian aid.
The six EU member states proposed lifting sanctions to enable civilian flights, reevaluating restrictions on high-value goods, removing the export ban on oil and gas technology, and reopening financial channels between the EU and Syria.
They emphasized that sanctions targeting members of al-Assad's administration and its supporters should remain intact.
Regarding HTS, the paper noted that lifting sanctions would require discussions at the United Nations level and coordination with key partners. It added that any decision would depend on a collective assessment of HTS, its leader Ahmad Al-Sharaa, and developments on the ground in Syria.
Kaja Kallas, the EU’s foreign policy chief, met Syria’s new foreign minister, Asaad al-Shibani, on Sunday in Riyadh, where senior Middle Eastern and Western diplomats gathered to discuss the country's situation.
"Now is the time for Syria's new leadership to deliver on the hope they have created – through a peaceful & inclusive transition that protects all minorities," Kallas said.
"Next, we will discuss with EU Foreign Ministers how to ease sanctions," she added.
Read more: KSA pressures EU officials to lift sanctions on Syria
