EU SUSPENDS SANCTIONS ON SYRIA’S KEY SECTORS TO SUPPORT RECONSTRUCTION EFFORTS

Mon 24 February 2025:

European Union countries today suspended a range of sanctions against Syria with immediate effect, Reuters has reported. They include restrictions related to energy, banking, transport and reconstruction.

The EU has a range of sanctions in place targeting both individuals and economic sectors in Syria. European leaders began rethinking their approach after revel forces led by Hay’at Tahrir Al-Sham (HTS) ousted President Bashar Al-Assad in December.

Meeting in Brussels on Monday, EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend restrictions on the energy sector that covered oil, gas and electricity, and sanctions on the transport sector.

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They have also lifted asset freezes for five banks, eased restrictions on the Syrian Central Bank and extended indefinitely an exemption to facilitate delivery of humanitarian aid.

Moreover, the EU has decided to extend indefinitely the humanitarian exemption, ensuring continued support for aid efforts.

“The Council maintains listings related to the Al-Assad regime, the chemical weapons sector and illicit drug trade as well as a number of sectoral measures, such as on arms trade, dual-use goods, equipment for internal repression, software for interception and surveillance, and the import/export of Syrian cultural heritage goods,” it said.

The EU said it will continue to assess the situation and consider further suspensions of economic sanctions if appropriate, all while monitoring the evolving situation in Syria closely.

The council reaffirmed that the fall of the Assad regime marks the beginning of a “hopeful new chapter for Syria, with all Syrians—both in the country and in the diaspora—having the opportunity to play a role in rebuilding their nation.”

Assad, Syria’s leader for nearly 25 years, fled to Russia on Dec. 8, ending the Baath Party’s regime, which had been in power since 1963.

Ahmad Al-Sharaa, who was appointed the new Syrian president on Jan. 29, tasked Mohammed Al-Bashir with forming a government to oversee Syria’s transitional period.

SOURCE: INDEPENDENT PRESS AND NEWS AGENCIES

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