Following US move, EU prepares to lift Syria sanctions

After a monumental removal of sanctions by the US on Trump’s Gulf tour, the EU follows the US as it prepares to lift Syria sanctions.

According to Reuters, European foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas stated on the 20th of May that she is hopeful ministers in Brussels would be able to reach a deal that would relieve Syria of European sanctions.

“On Syria, I hope that we will agree on the lifting of economic sanctions today,” she explained to reporters. “It is clear that we want there to be jobs and livelihoods for the people (in Syria), so that it would be a more stable country.”

The decision to remove sanctions comes as Brussels aims to develop the Syrian economy in the wake of Assad’s fall, aiming to improve the lives of the Syrian people.

Despite this, they are looking to enforce measures against human rights violations to make sure the new regime, which has had its own issues, such as civilian casualties and impacts on minorities across the country, is held accountable.

Such situations as the one on the 7th of March saw over 1,000 civilian deaths by government loyalists in the North Western region. While al-Sharaa condemned the attacks, these situations have made many in the West reluctant to give recognition to the new government.

In the face of these issues, the new interim government has managed to consolidate its power and is now gaining support from the West with vital economic support.

This change has come after Donald Trump recognised the new Syrian government during his Gulf tour in May.

Trump announced that he would remove sanctions by the US on Syria, stating “it gives them a chance for greatness.”

This change of mode by the US and Trump appears to be filtering across the West as EU ministers now appear poised to remove their own sanctions as al-Sharaa continues to gain traction across the Western world.

Reuters/Maghrebi.org