Brussels: European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas expressed optimism on Tuesday that EU ministers meeting in Brussels would agree to lift economic sanctions on Syria. Her remarks come amid growing calls for a policy shift aimed at fostering stability in the war-torn country.
“On Syria, I hope that we will agree on the lifting of economic sanctions today,” Kallas told reporters ahead of the meeting, cautioning that Europe must either support Syria’s path toward stabilization or risk a situation reminiscent of the collapse in Afghanistan.
EU ministers are deliberating on a political decision to lift economic sanctions while preserving restrictive measures targeting the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad. Additionally, new sanctions may be introduced against individuals and entities implicated in human rights abuses, according to officials familiar with the discussions.
Diplomats revealed that EU ambassadors had reached a preliminary agreement early Tuesday, laying the groundwork for a final decision by ministers during the session in Brussels.
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“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,” Kallas added, emphasizing the need for economic recovery as a pillar of regional stability.
The EU’s stance aligns with a recent announcement by U.S. President Donald Trump, who said he would direct the lifting of American sanctions on Syria—an indication of a potential transatlantic shift in approach to the long-isolated nation.
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Although the EU has already relaxed certain sanctions related to energy, transport, reconstruction, and relevant financial transactions, some member states argue that the measures do not go far enough to support Syria’s political transition or economic rebuilding.
