European Parliament Reveals Details of Plan to Lift Sanctions on Syria
The European Parliament announced on Wednesday that the suspension of sanctions against Syria will not be a “blank cheque.”
In his first meeting with European Union officials since the opposition overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s regime last year, Syrian Finance Minister Mohammed Abazid discussed the financial situation of Syria and the possibilities of easing the sanctions imposed on the country.
Abazid met with Germany’s interim envoy to Syria, Bjorn German, and EU representative Michael Unmacht in Damascus shortly after the EU agreed on a roadmap to relax its sanctions on Syria.
The EU has imposed a range of sanctions targeting individuals and economic sectors in Syria, including a ban on Syrian oil exports and restrictions on access to global financial channels.
At the beginning of the meeting, Abazid expressed hope to German, saying, “We hope that the image Germany had of Syria before December 8 will change.” German responded, “I am delighted to be here in the new Syria after an absence of nearly 13 years.”
Earlier,
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani stated that the sanctions imposed on Syria are the greatest challenge facing his country, noting that lifting them is key to its stability. He added, “The sanctions must be lifted soon because they were imposed in the past for the benefit of the Syrian people but are now against them.” He continued, “The world must direct its sanctions towards Bashar al-Assad, who is
in Russia.”
This strategic shift in EU policy signifies an acknowledgment of the new political landscape in Syria and
aims to support its economic recovery and transition to a post-Assad era.
This article provides a detailed overview of the current situation regarding EU sanctions on Syria,
integrating the political changes and the perspectives of Syrian officials directly involved in these
discussions.
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