EU agrees on 'step-by-step' roadmap to start easing sanctions on Syria

Hind Al Soulia - Riyadh - BRUSSELS — The European Union has taken the first step to ease its stringent, far-reaching sanctions against Syria after foreign affairs ministers endorsed on Monday a roadmap for a temporary suspension contingent upon progress on the ground.

The first restrictions likely to be eased concern the banking, energy, and transport sectors, several diplomats told Euronews, noting the selection was tentative and could still change as negotiations continue in Brussels.

The hand-picked sectors are considered essential to accelerate the war-torn country's reconstruction, strengthen stability and normalize financial relations with the bloc, which remains Syria's biggest international donor.

The move is part of a "step-by-step approach" that will relax some sanctions while keeping others in place, said High Representative Kaja Kallas.

"Right now we have a political decision – we have a roadmap," she said. "If we see some steps in the right direction, we're also willing to ease the next sanctions."

Kallas spoke of "technical issues" that needed to be thrashed out before the suspension could come into force. "Because the political will is there, I hope these issues will be solved in the (upcoming) weeks," she told reporters.

The sanctions relief is the most consequential decision Brussels has made since Bashar al-Assad's dynastic autocracy was overthrown in early December by a rapid offensive of rebel forces led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).

HTS leader Ahmad al-Sharaa has repeatedly pleaded with Western countries to lift the hard-hitting penalties that were imposed against Assad's regime in reaction to the brutal civil war, which saw the use of chemical weapons against civilians. Humanitarian NGOs backed the call, arguing relief was indispensable to increase the flow of aid.

Brussels promised sanctions relief would become a reality if a series of conditions were met on the ground, such as the protection of all religious and ethnic minorities and the respect for human rights and women's rights.

The authorities in Syria have said a committee of experts representing the country's various factions, including women, would be set to draft a new constitution that would guarantee inclusivity in the post-Assad era.

Al-Sharaa has cautioned the constitution could take up to three years to be finalised and new elections, up to four, due to the absence of a census. "We want the constitution to last for the longest time possible," he said last month.

Other commitments include the disbandment of all rebel forces, the establishment of a free-market economy, and the termination of a long-term military deal with Russia.

EU countries have reacted positively to the developments, even if they admit "the jury is still out" and the commitments made by HTS might fall short in practice.

This is why the sanctions relief agreed on Monday is a temporary suspension rather than a permanent abolition. The deal comes with a "snapback" mechanism to monitor the situation and re-activate restrictions if Syria takes a turn for the worse.

"We are very hopeful but, at the same time, we want to encourage the new government and leadership and administration in Syria to really be inclusive in all of its decision-making and planning of the future," said Finland's Eliena Valtonen.

Her French counterpart, Jean-Noël Barrot, expressed a similar message, saying the suspension needed to "be matched by a political transition that involves all Syrians" and "resolute measures" to preclude the so-called Islamic State from rebuilding its ranks.

Monday's agreement, details of which were not made public, has to be translated into legal acts before it can enter into force. Once applied, the suspension is expected to deliver a tangible change in trade and financial relations, which collapsed to virtually zero after the eruption of the civil war.

By contrast, sanctions on weapons, surveillance equipment, chemicals, and dual-use technology will remain, given the persistent volatility inside the country and the risk of a resurgence of sectarian violence and terrorism.

"We're still concerned about radicalisation and what might happen," Kallas said.

The blacklist of names and entities linked to the Assad regime will also stay untouched.

The designation of HTS as a terrorist organisation has not changed either as this stems from a decision by the United Nations that the EU has transposed. — Euronews