Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Abazeed met with European Union officials on Wednesday to discuss Syria's financial position and the potential easing of sanctions, marking the first such meeting since the ousting of the al-Assad regime in December.

Abazeed sat down with Germany's temporary envoy to Syria, Bjorn Gehrmann, and EU representative Michael Ohnmacht in Damascus, just days after the EU outlined a roadmap to gradually lift sanctions imposed on Syria.

The European Union currently enforces a range of sanctions against Syria, including a ban on oil exports and restrictions on access to global financial channels. These measures have significantly impacted the country's economy over the years.

"We hope that the image Germany had of Syria before December 8 will change," Abazeed told Gehrmann at the outset of the meeting.

Gehrmann, in response, expressed optimism about renewed engagement, stating, "It's a pleasure to be here in the new Syria after almost 13 years of absence. We're now in the process of reestablishing our diplomatic presence in Damascus… we have a couple of questions and a couple of messages that I would like to discuss with you today in order to start our diplomatic relations, also on financial matters."

Following the meeting, Gehrmann told Reuters that discussions covered Syria's budgetary situation, financial sector regulations, and key priorities for sanctions relief. While the EU is still finalizing the details of which sanctions will be lifted, he noted that the conversation was "encouraging."

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The European Union has expressed interest in supporting Syria's economic recovery. However, EU governments have emphasized a cautious, gradual approach to lifting sanctions to maintain diplomatic leverage while encouraging inclusive policies by the new authorities in Damascus.

Lifting sanctions to get back at Russia?

The Washington Post on Friday revealed that European countries are nearing a consensus on easing sanctions against Syria. This move is intended to support the nation's political transition, engage with its new Islamist leadership, and reduce Russia's regional influence.

The policy change is expected to be discussed at a meeting of European Union foreign ministers in Brussels next week, according to five European diplomats and two internal documents reviewed by the newspaper.

The sanctions relief would be gradual and contingent on Syria's new government respecting what the Europeans described as the rights of women and ethnic and religious minorities.

"The approach should be step-for-step, meaning sanction relief tied to positive developments," EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated to The Post. "If we see the opposite happening, the EU must be ready to reverse. This is our leverage."

This shift would signal a major policy realignment for Europe. It could offer critical support to Syria's struggling economy, which has been devastated by over 13 years of war, while also lending legitimacy to the country's new rulers.

Hay'at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), formerly affiliated with al-Qaeda, now leads Syria after spearheading the overthrow of President Bashar al-Assad. Discussions on whether to remove HTS from the terrorist organization list will take place later, depending on developments in Syria and an assessment of its leader, Ahmed al-Sharaa (Abu Mohammed al-Jolani).

The EU and US severed ties with Syria in 2011. Since then, sanctions have severely restricted the country's oil exports, trade, and banking activities. Although the US recently issued temporary sanctions exemptions to facilitate humanitarian aid, the proposed European measures would go further, easing restrictions on energy, transportation, and banking, while keeping weapon bans and targeted sanctions against Assad's associates in place.