EU suspends energy and transportation sanctions against Syria

The European Union (EU) has suspended sanctions against Syria in the spheres of energy and transportation. This is evidenced by a document published on the website of the Council of Europe on February 24.

It is specified that this measure is part of the EU's efforts to support an inclusive political transition in Syria, as well as its rapid economic recovery, reconstruction and stabilization.

"The EU seeks to promote engagement with Syria, its people and businesses in the key areas of energy and transportation, as well as financial and banking operations related to these sectors, and operations necessary for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes," the publication reads.

The Council also decided to remove five organizations from the list of persons subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources, to impose exemptions on the establishment of banking relations between Syrian banks and financial institutions in the territories of member countries, and to extend the application of the humanitarian exemption indefinitely.

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Head of European diplomacy Kaja Kallas on January 27 reported on the agreement of a roadmap by the foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries for the phased lifting of sanctions restrictions against Syria. At the same time, she warned that Europe could reinstate sanctions again if the actions of the new Syrian authorities were "wrong".