
By Treehill
France’s foreign minister has announced that certain European Union sanctions imposed on Syria will be removed as part of a comprehensive EU initiative aimed at stabilizing Damascus following the removal of President Bashar al-Assad in December. This topic was addressed by EU foreign ministers during a meeting held in Brussels on Monday.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot announced upon his arrival at the meeting in Brussels that a decision will be made today to lift or suspend certain sanctions imposed on the energy and transport sectors, as well as on financial institutions crucial for the financial stabilization of Syria.
The regime of Al-Assad, which maintained a tight grip on Syria for 54 years, was overthrown in a swift offensive on December 8, marking a sudden conclusion to a protracted 13-year conflict. This war resulted in extensive devastation across major cities in Syria and left a significant portion of the population in poverty.
Throughout the conflict, Al-Assad’s employment of torture and chemical weapons transformed Syria into a pariah state.
In response to these actions, the United States and the European Union implemented a series of stringent sanctions against Syria in 2011, effectively barring Damascus from accessing capital markets and trade revenues. These Western restrictions severed Syria’s formal economy from global interactions.
Julien Barnes-Dacey, a director at the European Council on Foreign Relations, stated that the lifting of sanctions will be accompanied by a significant degree of conditionality. He emphasized that the European Union aims to provide financial assistance to Syria’s new government while allowing time to assess whether the coalition led by former rebels, Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), will develop in alignment with human rights and democratic principles.
“The objective is to establish the conditions necessary for a constructive transition,” Barnes-Dacey remarked. “However, European nations seek to ensure a snap-back mechanism, allowing sanctions to be reinstated if HTS fails to pursue an inclusive transition.”
He further cautioned that the removal of sanctions imposed by the United States is essential for alleviating Syria’s numerous crises. “European sanctions alone will not significantly alter the situation. The presence of US sanctions is deterring foreign investment and international business,” he noted.
Barnes-Dacey concluded by stating, “To advance reconstruction and development, coordinated action from both the US and Europe is imperative.