EU agrees to begin easing sanctions on Syria

The European Union (EU) has agreed to begin easing sanctions on Syria following the ouster of former President Bashar al-Assad, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced Monday.

‘Step-for-step approach’ adopted

Kallas, speaking at a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, described the decision as a “step-for-step approach” to rebuild relations with Syria‘s new leadership.
“If they are doing the right steps, then we are willing to do the steps on our behalf as well,” Kallas said, emphasizing the need for reciprocal actions by the new administration in Damascus.

The EU imposed sweeping sanctions on Assad’s government and Syria’s economy during the civil war. The bloc is now prepared to ease restrictions in sectors such as energy, transport, and banking to support economic stabilization and reconstruction.

France highlights key sectors for sanction relief

French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot highlighted the importance of lifting sanctions in key areas, “Suspending sanctions on the energy, transport, and banking sectors is vital for Syria’s economic stability,” Barrot said during the meeting.

Barrot also proposed sanctions against Iranian officials responsible for the detention of French citizens, indicating ongoing EU concerns over human rights abuses in the region.

Sanctions to be suspended, not lifted

Diplomats have clarified that the EU will suspend, rather than fully lift, sanctions to maintain leverage over Syria’s new opposition-led government, headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa.

An EU document obtained by Reuters outlined a plan to suspend restrictions in sectors critical for economic reconstruction, with regular assessments to ensure the conditions in Syria align with EU expectations.

“The easing of EU restrictive measures would be rolled out in a staged approach and in a reversible manner,” the document stated.