EU has large part of sanctions against Syria

The European Union has decided on Monday to lift a large part of the sanctions imposed on the land during the civil war in Syria. That reports The European Council. According to the body, the decision is part of “efforts to support an inclusive political transition in Syria and to contribute to a rapid economic recovery.”

All sanctions that rested on the energy and transport sectors are canceled. Furthermore, five Syrian banks are removed from the list that stipulated that the funds of those banks had to be frozen. The Member States is also permitted to make money flows through the Syrian Central Bank.

The sanctions that were introduced as an instrument against (persons from the circle of) the former President Bashar al-Assad will remain standing. The European Council writes that the fall of that regime marks “the start of a new era of hope for the Syrian people”. “All Syrians, both in the country and in the diaspora, must be given the opportunity to participate in the reconstruction of their country.”

With the first announcement of the cancellation of the sanctions at the end of January, European leaders were still cautious in their enthusiasm. EU-Buitenland chef Kaja Kallas said that the future of Syria is “fragile, but hopeful”, and that “when the regime takes good steps, we want to do that too.” The Dutch Minister of Foreign Affairs, Caspar Veldkamp (NSC), emphasized that sanctions can also come into force again if necessary, “if the regime takes a turn that we do not want”.

Kurdish groups

In the Syrian capital Damascus, a conference starts on Tuesday on which thousands of Syrians come together for a “national dialogue.” The initiative for the event lies with the movement that Assad turned over, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa. At the conference, recommendations must be made for a constitutional statement, an interim right system and a plan for ‘institutional reforms’, writes Reuters news agency.

The conference is by invitation. Several Kurdish groups have not received an invitation. The Syrian Democratic Units (SDF), a group that is still supported by the United States, may not be there, for example.

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