EU Agrees to Lift Syria Sanctions
European Union foreign ministers agreed to ease sanctions on Syria during a meeting in Brussels, Belgium, the bloc’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Monday. These include sanctions on energy, transport and financial institutions, making it easier for the Syrian government to access foreign funds.
Kallas said the aim was to lift those measures “that are most hindering the early buildup of the country and to move from there.” She added that the sanctions could be reimposed if they see any abuses by the country’s new rulers.
Regarding Syria, we are going to decide today to lift, to suspend, certain sanctions that had applied to the energy and transport sectors and to financial institutions that were key to the financial stabilization of the country.
—Jean-Noël Barrot, French foreign minister
New pro-EU regime? In 2011, European nations began to heavily restricting exports to Syria and cut off diplomatic and financial ties in response to Bashar Assad’s abusive authoritarian regime.
The Islamic militant group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham toppled Assad’s government in December after 13 years of civil war. Since Assad’s fall, Europe has wasted no time in supporting Syria. Germany is taking the lead.
- In December, Germany entered Syria to ensure the destruction of the chemical weapons remaining from the Assad regime.
- Germany promised it would help establish a peaceful Syria to which thousands of refugees could return.
- Two weeks ago, Germany promised Syria another €50 million in humanitarian aid.
German-Syrian alliance: Watch for Germany to continue working with the new Syrian government. Bible prophecy forecasts an alliance between a German-led Europe, Syria and other Arab nations.
To learn about these prophecies, read “Syria’s Fall: Another Key Prophecy Fulfilled.”