General
E.U. Prepares to Cautiously Pare Back Sanctions on Syria
Member countries’ foreign ministers are meeting to discuss a “road map” to lift financial restrictions, but any change will happen in stages.
European Union foreign ministers are preparing to lift some sanctions on Syria, the bloc’s top diplomat told reporters on Monday, a move intended to give Syria’s new government some economic breathing room after more than a decade of stiff restrictions.
The European Union originally imposed sweeping trade limitations on Syria when it was under the control of President Bashar al-Assad, but after his ouster in December, it is preparing to roll those back in stages.
“We expect to reach a decision today, to put together a road map to ease the sanctions,” the diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told reporters as she headed into the E.U. foreign affairs council meeting.
The goal is to give the Syria’s new government some relief while also allowing time to determine whether the new Syrian power structure under the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will evolve in a way that is consistent with E.U. values.
“We start with the sanctions that they need the most to really start the buildup of the country, and then we see if the steps are going in the right direction,” Ms. Kallas said on Monday morning.
Sanctions on Syria have included an oil and arms embargo, export and import restrictions on some technology goods, and strict financial limitations. Paring them back is likely to be a delicate process.
