EU foreign ministers agree on phased easing of sanctions on Syria

In a key diplomatic development, European Union foreign ministers have agreed to take steps towards easing sanctions on Syria following the fall of Bashar Assad's regime in December.

The agreement was reached during a meeting in Brussels, where the bloc’s foreign ministers discussed the future of Syria and its recovery from over a decade of civil war, Caliber.Az reports via foreign media.

Kaja Kallas, the EU’s High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, confirmed the decision, stating on X, “While we aim to move fast, the lifting of sanctions can be reversed if wrong steps are taken.”

The move is seen as a signal that the EU is open to engaging with Syria’s new authorities, provided that they meet certain political and human rights conditions. In particular, the EU has called for an inclusive political process and respect for the rights of Syria’s ethnic and religious minorities.

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot outlined that the phased sanctions relief would primarily focus on the energy, transport, and financial sectors, which are essential to the country’s stabilization. “We are going to decide today to lift, to suspend, certain sanctions that had applied to the energy and transport sectors and to financial institutions that were key to the financial stabilization of the country,” Barrot said.

The EU’s decision follows the toppling of Assad’s regime by rebel groups on December 8. Over the past 13 years of civil conflict, Western countries imposed sweeping sanctions on Syria, aimed at holding the regime accountable for its abuses. However, with the shift in the political landscape, the EU has indicated its willingness to ease these restrictions as part of broader efforts to foster stability and recovery in the region.

The sanctions relief, though significant, will be phased and conditional. The EU emphasized that any backslide in Syria's political or human rights situation could lead to the re-imposition of sanctions. This cautious approach reflects the bloc’s desire to ensure that any steps towards easing restrictions are aligned with long-term peace and stability for Syria.

By Vafa Guliyeva