Foreign ministers of the bloc said they would return with restrictions if the new government takes “wrong measures”
The EU (European Union) high representative for foreign relations, Kaja Kallas, said on Monday (27.jan.2025) that the ministers of the bloc agreed to relieve sanctions applied to Syria. In an X (Ex-Twitter), Kallas said restrictions on the Syrian government may return if HTS (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham) rebel leaders take “Wrong Measures”.
“EU foreign ministers have just agreed with a script to relieve EU sanctions to Syria. Although we aim to act fast, the survey of sanctions can be reversed if wrong measures are taken ”he said to vice-president from the EU.
The EU, like the United States, applied economic sanctions to members and assistants of the government of Bashar al-Assad (2000-2024), who in December last year after the rebel forces take power. HTS members promised international leaders that social justice for all religions and ethnic groups in Syria, as well as making room for democratic elections.
The leader of the rebel group and Syrian Prime Minister Mohammed Al-Bashir, an international support to legitimize the new government, which includes the withdrawal of sanctions and a possible funding to rebuild the country.
The EU minister in France, Jean-Nooel Barrot, said that in one of the block sessions that the priority is to remove sanctions applied to energy and transportation sectors.
“Regarding Syria, we will decide today to raise and suspend certain sanctions that were applied to the energy and transportation sectors and the financial institutions that were essential for the country’s financial stabilization”.said Barrot.
On the other hand, the EU has confirmed that it will renew the restrictions on Russia “By the damage they are causing”. The sanctions would end on January 31 if the 27 member countries did not unanimously enter the decision, only the vote of Hungary was missing. Moscow grants asylum to Assad.
