EU to ease some sanctions against Syria following Assad's fall
EU foreign ministers on Monday agreed to begin easing sanctions on Syria after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December, the bloc's top diplomat said.
"While we aim to move fast, the lifting of sanctions can be reversed if wrong steps are taken," foreign affairs chief Kaja Kallas wrote on social media platform X on Monday.
The 27-nation EU imposed wide-ranging sanctions on the Assad government and Syria's economy during its civil war.
Brussels says it is now willing to ease sanctions on the expectation the new authorities make good on commitments to form an inclusive transition.
The aim is to help the reconstruction of the war-ravaged country and build bridges with its new leadership after the end of the Assad family's five-decade rule.
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot said the EU could start by suspending sanctions on the energy, transport and banking sectors that are key to the financial stabilisation of the country.
Syria FM says scrapping sanctions 'key' to country's stability
Suspension not removal
Some EU countries worry about moving too fast to embrace the new Islamist-led rulers in Damascus.
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