Change of power in Syria: After the fall of Assad: EU wants to loosen Syria sanctions

After the fall of long-term rulers Bashar al-Assad in Syria, the foreign ministers of the EU countries have approved a gradual relaxation of sanctions against the country. The procedure agreed at a meeting in Brussels provides to give the new rulers incentives to build a real democracy in Syria. There is also hope that hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees can one day return to their homeland in the EU.

The EU foreign commissioner Kaja Kallas said after the meeting that loosening should make it easier to reconcile and help Syria to get back on their feet. At the same time, she also emphasized that the plan also contains to reverse loosening when the new rulers initiate steps that go in the wrong direction from an EU perspective.

Baerbock announces millions

According to EU officials, the sanctions that are to be canceled include mainly measures that negatively affect energy supply and make it difficult for passenger and goods traffic. Loachings are also planned for the banking sector.

The transitional government in Syria welcomed the decision and spoke of a “positive step”. It is hoped that the sanctions, which were initially lifted for a year, would end permanently, said Foreign Minister Asaad al-Schaibani. “We hope that this decision for the Syrian people will have a constructive influence on all areas of life and will ensure sustainable development.”

The German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock (Greens) spoke of good news for people in Syria, but also for the Europeans in Brussels. She emphasized that the “sanctions against the murderous Assad clan and its henchmen” would remain in force. According to them, Germany will provide a further three million euros for the work of the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights in Syria.

Siemens power plant could benefit

As an example of a company that could benefit from sanction loosening, Baerbock named a Siemens power plant for electricity generation, which could not be serviced with support from Germany for years.

From 2011, the EU had imposed sanctions against Syria in response to the government of Bashar al-Assad’s violent procedure. These were also directed against economic sectors, from which the circle of power around Assad benefited.

The EU measures include a ban on investments in the Syrian oil industry and in companies that are involved in the construction of power plants for electricity generation in Syria. In addition, the sanction package includes an impact ban for crude oil from Syria, an weapon embargo and other export restrictions. The Syrian airline Syrian Arab Airlines is also subject to sanctions.

Information from the EU for the meeting