The European Union (EU) may lift sanctions on Syria related to its energy and transport sectors if an agreement is reached at a meeting of the bloc's foreign ministers on January 27, Reuters reported, citing its sources.
According to them, diplomats from 27 countries of the association have recommended that measures be taken immediately to suspend restrictions in areas that are important for the recovery and stabilization of the Syrian economy. Representatives of the group coordinating the foreign policy positions of EU members for the Middle East and North Africa also advised considering the possibility of resuming banking and investment relations with Syria.
However, the sources noted that if an agreement is reached, the easing of sanctions would be carried out in a reversible manner and include regular assessments of whether the current situation in Syria allows this process to continue.
On Friday, the head of EU diplomacy, Kaya Kallas, told a press conference in Ankara that the issue of gradually lifting sanctions against Syria would be discussed at a meeting of foreign ministers of the 27 EU countries on Monday, and noted that Brussels was ready to ease the sanctions regime against Syria depending on the actions of the new government.