Why did the European Union extend sanctions on Syria?

Despite international demands that the sanctions regime imposed by some countries in order to fight the spread of the Coronavirus epidemic must be stopped, the European Union extended the sanctions imposed on Syria for a year.

The European danger came as a result of a similar American step, and hit all international appeals, as US President Donald Trump announced two weeks ago to extend unilateral economic sanctions on Syria for a year.

10 countries including Russia, China, Iran and Syria have sent an official message to the High Commissioner for Human Rights calling for immediate action to lift the unilateral sanctions imposed by the United States on the countries.

Last Thursday, the Council of the European Union announced the extension of sanctions against the Syrian government for one year, until the summer of 2021.

The sanctions were due to expire June 1, before the extension was announced.

Damascus attacked the European Union after its decision to extend the sanctions against Syria, considering that this measure is a crime against humanity and indicates the European Union’s “unlimited support for terrorist groups” and that it is participating in the bloodshed of Syria.

The Syrian official News Agency, SANA, quoted a source in the Syrian Foreign Ministry as confirming the European Union’s dependence on American policies, and said: “It is not surprising that the European Union’s decision to renew the coercive measures imposed on Syria, especially since it came after the American decision in this regard, confirms the loss of this union’s independence of the decision.

And his humiliating dependence on American policy”.

The source added: “This decision reaffirms the full partnership of the European Union in the war against Syria and its unlimited support for terrorist groups, and therefore it bears a primary responsibility in spilling the blood of the Syrians as well as in their suffering as a result of unjust sanctions that directly affect their lives and livelihood and impede efforts to provide the means and capabilities The medical infrastructure necessary to confront the Coronavirus epidemic is what makes these sanctions a flagrant violation of the most basic human rights, international humanitarian law and a crime against humanity in the fullest sense of the word”.

The Syrian Foreign Ministry pointed out that the decision of the European Union “reveals the falsehood of the positions and statements of its officials regarding the easing of sanctions with regard to humanitarian assistance to confront the Coronavirus epidemic and exposes the hypocrisy that has become an essential feature of European policies and lost them the lowest levels of credibility and made the European Union devoid of any consideration on the international scene and the European public opinion Both”.

A group of countries, notably Russia and China, have asked the United Nations to lift unilateral sanctions that hinder the fight against Coronavirus.

A letter from the missions of eight countries, including Syria, Venezuela and Iran, to the Secretary-General of the United Nations, António Guterres: Purchase of medical equipment and supplies, such as test kits and medicines, to receive and treat patients.

These states called on the Secretary-General to “demand the immediate and complete lifting of relevant illegal, coercive and unjustified economic pressure measures”.