EU conducts comprehensive review of Syria sanctions regime
In a move reflecting a shift in European strategy towards Syria, the European Union intends to conduct a comprehensive review of the sanctions regime imposed on the country, moving from a punitive framework targeting the symbols of the former regime to one focused on supporting and managing the fragile transition.
From punishment to conditional support Since former President Bashar al Assad fled Syria in late 2024 and Ahmed al Sharaa took over the country, the EU has lifted all economic sanctions in a bid to support the recovery process after long years of conflict.
An unofficial document distributed to EU member states revealed that the European diplomatic apparatus is moving towards a new model that mainly targets those who obstruct the transition path, rather than focusing exclusively on figures associated with the former regime.
The scope of the penalties in their new version expands to include several categories:
- Armed Groups;
- Human rights violators;
- Entities Involved in Corruption During the Reconstruction Phase;
- Drug smuggling networks;
The document notes that the sanctions regime needs to be adapted to support the EU’s decision to resume political and economic engagement with Syria more effectively.
The report considers the current sanctions regime to be a remnant of the past that may continue to impede the flow of investors willing to work within the Syrian market.
Under the proposal, which will be discussed at the technical level next Tuesday, the current rules used to punish people linked to Bashar al Assad will remain in effect temporarily, in order to keep the existing 375 sanctions unchanged for the time being.
In a remarkable development, the EU’s diplomatic apparatus has signaled that the Syrian Ministries of Interior and Defense could be removed from the blacklist, although they are currently under sanctions.
The potential move is aimed at facilitating cooperation with post-Assad authorities.
During her visit to Damascus last January, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced a European support package for the new Syrian government amounting to 620 million Euros, covering 2026 and 2027.
In addition, EU foreign ministers are discussing the possibility of reactivating the trade clause in the 1978 cooperation agreement between the European Economic Community and Syria, which was frozen after the former regime’s crackdown on protesters more than a decade ago.
These European moves reflect a desire to support stability in Syria while maintaining pressure mechanisms against any parties that may impede the transitional process, in a new approach that reconciles supporting recovery, ensuring respect for human rights, and combating corruption.
