EU Prepares to Lift Sanctions on Syria’s Key Sectors

The European Union is taking steps toward lifting sanctions on Syria, focusing on sectors such as oil, gas, banking, and transportation. According to a non-paper seen by Euronews, the EU is discussing measures to ease restrictions on Syria’s economy in response to shifting geopolitical dynamics following the downfall of Bashar al-Assad.

The non-paper outlines a proposal to remove several sanctions, including those on oil and gas exports, banking activities, and transportation, as part of a broader strategy to re-engage with Syria’s economy. One of the key changes under discussion is the removal of the EU’s export ban on oil and gas technology. It also suggests the reopening of financial channels, including banking relationships between Syrian banks and EU counterparts.

Conditions and Delisting of Terrorist Groups

The document also stresses that any decision to delist factions such as Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), an Islamic militia group with former ties to Al-Qaeda, must be made at the UN Security Council level and based on a joint EU assessment. Any delisting will depend on the situation on the ground in Syria and the risk of terrorism financing. The EU is also looking to lift sanctions on Syrian Arab Airlines to facilitate civilian flight operations between Syria and the EU.

However, the proposal makes clear that Bashar al-Assad and his affiliates will remain subject to EU sanctions, and the process of lifting restrictions will be conditional on Syria’s progress in ensuring stability and preventing the resurgence of terrorist groups. The EU plans to discuss these measures further during a meeting of foreign affairs ministers scheduled for January 27.