EU explores easing Syrian sanctions for social reform gains
According to the Financial Times, which cited its sources on Tuesday, Germany is proposing that the EU ease some sanctions on the Syrian banking and energy sectors in exchange for social reforms and non-proliferation guarantees.
According to reports in the British newspaper, Berlin made this proposal before the holidays and hopes to gain support at the European Union foreign ministers' meeting on January 27 in Brussels.
Sources for the "FT" state that the proposal involves gradually lifting sanctions imposed on Syria during the brutal regime of Bashar al-Assad in exchange for progress in the areas of minority and women's rights, as well as guarantees of non-proliferation of weapons of mass destruction.
Syrian rebels, led by the Islamist organization Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), announced on December 8 the overthrow of the Assad regime, which had remained in power largely due to assistance from Russia and Iran. Assad fled to Russia, where he and his family received asylum.
The EU wants to support Syria
On January 3, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, along with French Foreign Minister Jean Noel Barrot, visited the Syrian capital, Damascus, where they met with the new Syrian leader Ahmed al-Shara. Baerbock stated at that time that the EU wants to support Syria in a peaceful transition but stressed that the Community "obviously will not finance the Islamization of society."
During the meeting, al-Shara did not shake Baerbock's hand in greeting.
On January 6, the US Department of the Treasury announced a temporary exclusion of part of the transactions with the new Syrian government from sanctions, in order to "not hinder" the delivery of essential services, such as electricity or water.
