Latest news with #EU-Syria
Al-Ahram Weekly
5 days ago
- Business
- Al-Ahram Weekly
EU official says 175 mln euro Syria recovery package 'clear message' of support - Region
Visiting EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica said Thursday that a 175 million euro package for war-torn Syria was a "clear message" of support for its reconstruction. Suica announced the package in Damascus Wednesday, saying it would focus on sectors including energy, education, health and agriculture, helping rebuild Syria's economy, support its institutions and promote human rights. "I came here... with a clear message that we are here to assist and help Syria on its recovery," Suica told AFP in an interview on Thursday. "We want that reconstruction and recovery will be Syria-owned and Syria-led," she said, on the first visit by an EU commissioner since a transitional government was unveiled in late March. "We want to see Syria to be a regular, normal, democratic country in the future," she added. Syria has been navigating a delicate transition since Islamist-led forces ousted longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad in December after nearly 14 years of civil war. The European Union announced last month it would lift economic sanctions on Syria in a bid to help its recovery. "This is a pivotal moment -- a new chapter in EU-Syria relations," Suica said on X, calling her meeting with interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa "constructive". This is a pivotal moment — a new chapter in EU-Syria relations for the benefit of all Syrian people. After lifting economic sanctions, we are proposing a €175 million recovery package to help rebuild the economy, create jobs, support institutions, promote accountability & human… — Dubravka Šuica (@dubravkasuica) June 4, 2025 Like Syria's neighbours, Western governments are keen to steer it onto the road to stability after the war triggered an exodus of millions of refugees. Refugee returns should be "safe, voluntary and dignified", Suica said. The EU has not designated Syria as a safe country for returns "because we don't want to push people to come here and then they don't have a home", she said. The EU last month sanctioned three Syrian militia groups and two of their leaders for serious human rights abuses over their alleged involvement in sectarian massacres in the costal heartland of the Alawite minority, to which Assad belongs, in March. "We cannot pronounce one part of Syria safe and another not," Suica said, noting that designating Syria a safe country needs "unanimity among 27 European member states". She said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani would attend a ministerial meeting involving almost a dozen Mediterranean countries in Brussels on June 23. A statement released on Wednesday said that the European Commission was "actively pursuing the integration of Syria into several key initiatives with its Mediterranean partner countries". "We want to see Syria united" and inclusive, Suica told AFP. "This is a process. It will happen step by step." Follow us on: Facebook Instagram Whatsapp Short link:
Saudi Gazette
24-02-2025
- Business
- Saudi Gazette
EU lifts sweeping energy, transport sanctions on Syria
BRUSSELS — EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to suspend a series of far-reaching sanctions against Syria to help the country's economic recovery and reconstruction after nearly 14 years of civil Council decided to remove five financial entities (Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Saving Bank, Agricultural Cooperative Bank and Syrian Arab Airlines) from the list of entities subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources and to allow funds and economic resources to be made available to the Central Bank of EU has also suspended sectoral measures in the oil, gas, electricity, and transport sectors and introduced exemptions to the ban on banking relations between Syrian banks and financial institutions in the EU to facilitate transactions for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes, as well as for the energy and transport bloc will monitor the country's situation to guarantee that suspensions remain appropriate with Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, stressing that "if everything does not go right, then we are also ready to put the sanctions back"."Any kind of government needs to be all-inclusive and taking into account all the different groups that are in Syria,' she of the EU's sanctions were imposed following Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown on Syrian protesters in 2011, including broad restrictions on trade, financial transactions, and key industries such as energy and sanctions led to the collapse of EU-Syria economic relations, with trade flows worth €396 million in regime of Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December last year by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has since been calling for the lifting of wide-ranging sanctions to help the war-torn country's have also been calls to remove HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa from international terrorist lists, but the Council decided to maintain such lists in relation to the al-Assad regime, as well as those on arms trafficking, dual-use goods, the chemical weapons sector, and illicit drug trafficking, among EU's blacklist, which was renewed in November, covers 318 individuals and 86 entities. All are subject to an assets freeze and a travel than 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line and at least 16.5 million people across Syria rely on some form of humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, according to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA).Last week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that sweeping EU, US, and UK sanctions on Syria are hampering the country's economic recovery and preventing millions of Syrians from accessing essential services such as electricity, health care, water, and education.'Rather than using broad sectoral sanctions as leverage for shifting political objectives, Western governments should recognize their direct harm to civilians and take meaningful steps to lift restrictions that impede access to basic rights,' said Hiba Zayadin, senior Syria researcher at HRW. 'A piecemeal approach of temporary exemptions and limited waivers is not enough. Sanctions that harm civilians should immediately be lifted, not refined,' Zayadin added. — Euronews
Euronews
24-02-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU lifts sweeping energy, transport sanctions on Syria
EU foreign ministers decided on Monday to suspend a series of far-reaching sanctions against Syria to help the country's economic recovery and reconstruction after nearly 14 years of civil war. The Council decided to remove five financial entities (Industrial Bank, Popular Credit Bank, Saving Bank, Agricultural Cooperative Bank and Syrian Arab Airlines) from the list of entities subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources and to allow funds and economic resources to be made available to the Central Bank of Syria. The EU has also suspended sectoral measures in the oil, gas, electricity, and transport sectors and introduced exemptions to the ban on banking relations between Syrian banks and financial institutions in the EU to facilitate transactions for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes, as well as for the energy and transport sectors. The bloc will monitor the country's situation to guarantee that suspensions remain appropriate with Kaja Kallas, the EU's top diplomat, stressing that "if everything does not go right, then we are also ready to put the sanctions back". "Any kind of government needs to be all-inclusive and taking into account all the different groups that are in Syria,' she said. Most of the EU's sanctions were imposed following Bashar al-Assad's violent crackdown on Syrian protesters in 2011, including broad restrictions on trade, financial transactions, and key industries such as energy and transport. The sanctions led to the collapse of EU-Syria economic relations, with trade flows worth €396 million in 2023. The regime of Bashar al-Assad was toppled in December last year by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which has since been calling for the lifting of wide-ranging sanctions to help the war-torn country's economy. There have also been calls to remove HTS and its leader Ahmed al-Sharaa from international terrorist lists, but the Council decided to maintain such lists in relation to the al-Assad regime, as well as those on arms trafficking, dual-use goods, the chemical weapons sector, and illicit drug trafficking, among others. The EU's blacklist, which was renewed in November, covers 318 individuals and 86 entities. All are subject to an assets freeze and a travel ban. More than 90% of Syrians live below the poverty line and at least 16.5 million people across Syria rely on some form of humanitarian assistance to meet their basic needs, according to a report by the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA). Last week, Human Rights Watch (HRW) warned that sweeping EU, US, and UK sanctions on Syria are hampering the country's economic recovery and preventing millions of Syrians from accessing essential services such as electricity, health care, water, and education. 'Rather than using broad sectoral sanctions as leverage for shifting political objectives, Western governments should recognize their direct harm to civilians and take meaningful steps to lift restrictions that impede access to basic rights,' said Hiba Zayadin, senior Syria researcher at HRW.
Jordan News
22-02-2025
- Politics
- Jordan News
EU Moves to Partially Lift Sanctions on Syria - Jordan News
The European Union is preparing to ease some sanctions imposed on Syria, specifically targeting the banking, energy, and transport sectors. A senior EU official, speaking to the press on Friday, confirmed that EU foreign ministers are expected to formally decide on this partial sanctions relief during their meeting in Brussels on Monday. اضافة اعلان The official, who requested anonymity, clarified that the decision will be "reversible", meaning it will be considered a "suspension" rather than a complete removal. He emphasized that the democratic steps taken by the Damascus government will be crucial in this process. Initially, the sanctions relief will focus on the banking, energy, and transport sectors. Background on EU-Syria Sanctions At the end of January, EU foreign ministers agreed on a roadmap to ease sanctions on Syria. The EU's High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, previously stated that the EU aims to act swiftly but retains the ability to reinstate sanctions if Damascus takes the wrong steps. Political Developments in Syria On December 8, 2024, Syrian opposition factions gained control of Damascus, following a series of advances across other cities. This marked the end of 61 years of Ba'ath Party rule and 53 years of Assad family governance. On January 29, the Syrian transitional administration appointed Ahmad Al-Shar'a as the interim president. Several key decisions were also announced, including: Dissolution of armed factions and security agencies from the previous regime. Dissolution of the Syrian parliament and the Ba'ath Party. Annulment of the existing constitution. These rapid political shifts have led to increased international discussions, including within the EU, about the future engagement with Syria.
Euronews
27-01-2025
- Business
- Euronews
EU is about to start suspending sanctions on Syria. How many are in place?
With Bashar al-Assad gone and his autocracy in ruins, the EU is ready to turn the page and start anew with Syria. Brussels and other capitals have already established direct contact with the provisional government in Damascus led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). EU leaders have laid out the guiding principles for resetting relations. Humanitarian aid has been boosted. Now, the most decisive step is fast approaching: sanctions relief. "We want to support Syrians' economic recovery, and the European Union is ready to ease sanctions on Syria – contingent on the new government's actions," High Representative Kaja Kallas said during a visit to Ankara. A meeting of foreign affairs ministers on Monday is widely expected to yield a political agreement on sanctions relief, which HTS has framed as existential for the country. Diplomats in Brussels believe there is enough consensus to make the decision but caution the sanctions will not be lifted, in the sense of permanently erased. Instead, they will be temporarily "suspended" and coupled with a "fall-back mechanism" that can reinstate the penalties if HTS fails to deliver on its promises of inclusive governance. "The suspension of sanctions has to take place as soon as possible and needs to be reversible," said a senior diplomat. "We will look at the deeds of the new authorities and, if needed, reverse. That's why it's a suspension, not a lifting." Ahead of the meeting, Euronews breaks down the EU sanctions on Syria. Financial chokehold The sweeping sanctions that Brussels imposed in response to Assad's repression during Syria's Civil War, where human rights violations were rife, led to the collapse of EU-Syria economic relations. In 2023, Syria was ranked as the bloc's 143rd trading partner, with commercial flows worth €396 million. One of the reasons behind these negligible numbers is the hard-hitting restrictions the EU introduced against the Syrian government and the Syrian financial sector to avoid propping up Assad's war machine with European money. As a result, member states are banned from providing the Syrian government with grants, financial aid, concessional loans, insurance and reinsurance. The ban extends to the European Investment Bank (EIB), which is not allowed to make any disbursements or payments to Syria. The direct and indirect purchase of Syrian bonds is also prohibited. When it comes to banking, the sanctions go both ways: European banks are not permitted to open branches in Syrian territory and Syrian banks are not permitted to open branches in EU territory, including joint ventures. The Central Bank of Syria cannot be serviced with European coins and banknotes. Public and private assistance to support EU-Syria trade, such as export credits and guarantees, is equally outlawed. All in all, the sanctions erect so many barriers that it makes it virtually impossible for European governments and companies to engage with Syrian entities, particularly those associated with the Syrian state. Although the legal regime contains exemptions and derogations for humanitarian aid, NGOs face a complex, costly landscape in their operations. A 2023 study by the European Parliament highlighted the "widespread refusal" of banks to process any transfers to Syria and the "chilling effect" created by the fear of violating sanctions. Restoring financial ties with Europe, Syria's main donor, will be essential to ramp up assistance for reconstruction, infrastructure and public services, which means these sectorial sanctions are highly likely to be suspended as a first step. "This is one of the things we're looking at," said another diplomat. "We're aware we need to move quickly – sooner rather than later. We need sanctions suspension to be able to assist Syria in its transition." Focus on energy Unlike other Middle Eastern countries, Syria is not a leading exporter of oil and gas. However, for the government, both fuels are crucial revenue to sustain the economy. Before the start of the civil war, Syria used to produce almost 400,000 oil barrels per day. But once the fighting began, production plunged to 30,000 barrels per day. The numbers improved in recent years to 95,000 barrels per day. EU sanctions played a part in this contraction: the bloc introduced a stringent ban on the purchase, import and transport of Syrian crude oil and refined petroleum products. The ban aims at crippling Syria's oil industry as it prohibits European companies from providing direct and indirect funds, key equipment and technical assistance, all of which are necessary to upgrade the infrastructure. A similar ban applies to Syria's gas industry. Additionally, the EU forbade its companies from taking part in the construction of new electricity plans in Syria. Acquisitions, joint ventures, loans, credits and technical assistance in this field are not allowed either. Energy sanctions – particularly those on electricity generation – have come under scrutiny in the aftermath of Assad's fall due to the severity of the humanitarian crisis and the sheer destruction left by the protracted war, where power outages are frequent. Besides banking and financing, energy is the other key sector most likely to be addressed by foreign ministers as part of the sanctions relief. The elite and the army Finance and energy represent the most important strands in the EU sanctions on Syria due to their far-reaching impact and economic implications. But there is more, much more. In a bid to target Syria's affluent elite, which was considered close to the Assad family, Brussels banned the export of EU-made luxury goods, such as vehicles, boats, jewellery, gems, pearls, wines, spirits, caviar, truffles, clocks, shoes and handbags. The trade of gold and diamonds was also proscribed. With an eye on Assad's military, the EU outlawed the export of a long list of dual-use goods, like protective suits and gas masks, as well as telecommunication equipment, which the army could have deployed to crack down on protesters. Additionally, the bloc banned the export of toxic chemical agents, fearing they could be used to manufacture weapons of mass destruction. (The civil war registered dozens of episodes in which Assad's forces deployed chemical weapons, usually chlorine, sarin or mustard gas, to kill rebels and civilians, prompting global outrage and harsher sanctions.) On top of that, the EU has an outright arms embargo on Syria that includes weapons, ammunition, military vehicles and spare parts, among others. In parallel with these sectorial sanctions, Brussels blacklisted a wide range of individuals, such as government ministers, military and intelligence officers, and leading businessmen, who were accused of enabling the repression. The blacklist, renewed as recently as November, covers 318 people and 86 entities. All of them are subject to an asset freeze and a travel ban. All of these sanctions are certain to remain in place for the time being, given the volatility and unpredictability in the post-Assad era, where the risk of sectarian violence, extremism and terrorism is still high. The suspension will relate to "reconstruction, rehabilitation and the possibility to inject positive dynamism" in Syria, said a high-ranking EU official with knowledge of the process. The official stressed relief on weapons, surveillance equipment, dual-use technology, chemicals and blacklisted individuals would "not happen". The other sanctions The transport sector is also under tough sanctions: as of today, flights operated by Syrian carriers, such as Syrian Arab Airlines, are not allowed to land at EU airports and member states cannot export jet fuel to Syrian companies. European authorities are obliged to inspect the cargo of vessels bound for Syria if they suspect prohibited items to be on board. If that is the case, the items must be seized. Moreover, member states are forbidden from trading items of "archaeological, historical, cultural, rare scientific and religious importance" that were illegally removed from Syria after the start of the civil war. According to EU rules, the prohibition will not apply if the cultural items are "being safely returned to their legitimate owners in Syria," something that might become more feasible in the post-Assad era. Food and medicines are exempted from any restrictions. "The sanctions regime is quite complex," said the high-ranking EU official, warning the agreement between foreign ministers will take "a bit of time" to be translated into legal acts that can pave the way for the actual suspension. "We also have the political conditionality that the (new) authorities in Damascus will go in the right direction in terms of inclusivity and stability."
