EU plans to lift economic sanctions on Syria: reports
Make us a preferred source
Make us a preferred source on Google
The news: The European Union is preparing to lift remaining economic sanctions on Syria, pending formal approval from the Union’s ministers who are meeting in Brussels on Tuesday, according to media reports.
The context: Ministers are reportedly considering a decision to lift economic sanctions while maintaining sanctions related to the Assad regime, as well as introducing measures against human rights violators.
While the EU had already begun partial lifting of restrictions on select Syrian energy companies and banks earlier this year, the push to remove remaining sanctions follows US President Donald Trump’s call to lift sanctions last week. Earlier this month French President Emmanuel Macron said the US and EU should "rush to lift sanctions" on the country.
Reuters reports that EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said that she hoped ministers gathering in Brussels would reach an agreement on lifting economic sanctions on Syria.
"It is clear that we want there to be jobs and livelihoods for the people (in Syria), so that it would be a more stable country," Kallas said.
