Various Syrian sanctions have been suspended by the European Union including banking, transport, energy, and reconstruction. This removal took effect on Monday, February 24th. This happened after European heads of state began to rethink how they handle Syrian affairs because Bashar al-Assad was toppled from power by Islamist Hayat Tahir al-Sham on December 8th, 2024. The European Union wants to make sure that they can facilitate healthier relations with Syria, and its businesses. They specified that they want to ensure a healthy transfer of political power in Syria with swift economic recovery, reconstruction, and stabilization.
The European foreign minister met in Brussels, Belgium ,and agreed to suspend limitations on oil, gas, electricity, and sanction on the transport sector. Asset freezes on Agricultural Cooperative Bank, Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Saving Bank and Syrian Arab Airlines were lifted, and limitations on the Syrian central bank were eased. They have also extended the application of humanitarian aid that can be delivered to Syria. The Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al- Shibani has also posted that “We have spent the past two months engaging in discussions and diplomatic efforts to ease the unjust sanctions that have burdened our people.” He then continued on X that “We welcome the EU’s decision to suspend selected sanctions on specific sectors and see this as a step toward alleviating the suffering of our people.”
However, the European Union has not decided to lift some of the sanctions including arm trading, dual-use goods , surveillance software, and Syrian cultural goods. The European Union has specified that they would continue to monitor the situation in Syria ,and take appropriate action. There are some things that the European Union is monitoring. The chemical weapon sector and illicit drug trade are of specific concern. Historically, the Eu sanctions have been used as a tool against the old al-Assad regime that was responsible for the violence that occurred in Syria. The official European Union website states the fall of the old regime marks a new beginning for the Syrian people. They continue to stand with the Syrian people at this time.
This has all been started by the fall of the al-Assad regime. The European Union responded by having a meeting on December 19th, 2024 on their future relations with Syria. They have stressed that Syria has the opportunity to rebuild their country. To do this, the European Union wants Syria to have a political system that meets the actual wants of the Syrian people. They also supported the UN special envoy that went to Syria. This shows that the European Union would respect what happened to Syria’s independence within their borders, and will not try to take forceful action against Syria. However, they will still try to communicate with Syrian on what the Eu wants them to do. For example, Syria has been asked to expand human rights within their borders especially with womens’ rights and the rights of religious and ethnic minorities. This is to ensure that Syria can preserve national unity and have a peaceful political transition from the old regime.
They have also asked for the safe return of Syrian refugees to their families. The European Union is also emphasising the necessity of the fight against terrorism. This can be done with the prevention of terrorist groups re-emerging. To help Syria do this, the European Council has invited the European Commission and the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy to submit options that would provide assistance to Syria. As mentioned previously, the European Union has relieved some of its sanctions on Syria to hopefully establish a good relationship between Europe and the new Syrian regime.
Written by Samarth Irani
