EU Parliament Report Analyzes EU, US Approach to Syria Sanctions Relief
A European Parliament report published this month analyzes how the EU is approaching lifting sanctions against Syria after the December overthrow of the Bashar al-Assad regime.
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The Parliamentary Research Service report noted that at least six member states -- Germany, France, the Netherlands, Spain, Finland and Denmark -- have called on the bloc to lift certain sanctions, including measures that would allow civilian flights to and from the country, remove an export ban on oil and gas technology, reopen financial channels between the EU and Syria, and carry out a review of trade restrictions on “high-value goods.” European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen also said in December that the EU should “reconsider” its sectoral sanctions against the country.
Since then, the EU’s Foreign Affairs Council reached a political agreement on a “roadmap” for Syria sanctions relief, which could include phased approaches to removing sanctions on the country’s energy, transport and financial sectors. “The selection could still change as negotiations advance on technical aspects, which are expected to be finalised within weeks.”
The report also pointed to the Biden administration decision in January to authorize certain transactions with the country, which sent a “positive signal” that the U.S. was open to making it easier to “engage directly” with the new Syrian administration. But the Parliamentary Research Service also said that move isn’t expected to “have a significant impact” because most U.S. sanctions remain.
“The waivers will help to ensure the delivery of basic services to the population, but will not enable the resumption of normal business activity, international trade and development assistance required to end Syria's isolation,” the report said.