EU considers ‘staged approach’ to suspending Syria sanctions

European capitals began reassessing Syria policies after ousting of President Bashar al-Assad on December 8 by insurgent forces

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Mount Qasioun after the removal of Syria’s Bashar al-Assad, in Damascus, Syria on Saturday. Photo: Reuters

Published: 3:05am, 21 Jan 2025Updated: 3:30am, 21 Jan 2025

The European Union is considering a step-by-step suspension of multiple economic sanctions targeting Syria as it seeks to support the country’s transition, while retaining some leverage, according to two internal documents seen by Reuters.

EU foreign ministers are expected to discuss suspending some Syrian sanctions during a meeting in Brussels on January 27.

European capitals began reassessing their Syria policies after the ousting of president Bashar al-Assad on December 8 by insurgent forces led by the Islamist Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) that the United Nations designates a terrorist group.

The documents, produced by the bloc’s foreign policy arm ahead of the ministers’ meeting, outline options for supporting Syria’s transition and a road map for easing sanctions.

“Broad consensus has emerged among EU member states on the need to ease the EU’s sanctions framework in order to send a positive signal of support to the transition and new authorities,” according to the proposed road map.

“At the same time, several EU MS [member states] have urged for prudence and maintaining some leverage vis-a-vis the new authorities, in case things do not evolve as hoped,” it said, adding that “a staged approach should be employed”.