EU suspends select Syria sanctions to encourage democratic development
Al JazeeraFEB 22
EU Lifts Key Syria Sanctions
Above: People participate in a protest against international sanctions following the fall of the Assad regime on Syria on Jan. 25, 2025, in Aleppo, Syria. Image copyright: Spencer Platt/Staff/Getty Images News via Getty Images
The Facts
The EU announced an immediate suspension of select sanctions against Syria's energy, transport, and banking sectors on Monday, marking a shift in policy following the December overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime by opposition forces.
The Council's decision includes lifting asset freezes on five Syrian banks (Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Saving Bank, Agricultural Cooperative Bank, and Syrian Arab Airlines), while also easing restrictions on the Syrian Central Bank, energy, and transport.
The EU maintains other restrictive measures related to arms trafficking, dual-use goods, chemical weapons, surveillance software, and the illicit drug trade, while continuing to monitor Syria's situation to ensure the suspensions remain appropriate.
The Spin
Pro-establishment narrative
The suspension of sanctions represents a strategic opportunity to support Syria's economic recovery and inclusive political transition, while maintaining leverage through reversible measures if the new leadership fails to implement promised reforms.
Establishment-critical narrative
History has shown that the fall of one dictatorship often leads to chaos, with new regimes replicating or even worsening the old regime's abuses. While the fall of Assad is seen as a victory, the rise of HTS raises concerns. Before lifting sanctions, HTS must demonstrate that it is fundamentally different from the Assad regime.