European Union foreign ministers are preparing to lift some sanctions on Syria, the bloc’s top diplomat told reporters on Monday, a move intended to give Syria’s new government some economic breathing room after more than a decade of stiff restrictions.
The European Union originally imposed sweeping trade limitations on Syria when it was under the control of President Bashar al-Assad, but after his ouster in December, it is preparing to roll those back in stages.
“We expect to reach a decision today, to put together a road map to ease the sanctions,” the diplomat, Kaja Kallas, told reporters as she headed into the E.U. foreign affairs council meeting.
The goal is to give the Syria’s new government some relief while also allowing time to determine whether the new Syrian power structure under the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham will evolve in a way that is consistent with E.U. values.
“We start with the sanctions that they need the most to really start the buildup of the country, and then we see if the steps are going in the right direction,” Ms. Kallas said on Monday morning.
Sanctions on Syria have included an oil and arms embargo, export and import restrictions on some technology goods, and strict financial limitations. Paring them back is likely to be a delicate process.
That’s because Europe is still assessing the rise to power of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, a name that means Organization for the Liberation of the Levant. The group is a former affiliate of Al Qaeda, though it broke away years ago. But many Western countries still consider Hayat Tahrir al-Sham a terrorist group, and they are watching its actions warily.
The United States, for instance, has eased restrictions on humanitarian aid to Syria and has let up on some financial sanctions in an effort to enable essential services, but it has left many other limitations in place as it waits to see how the new government shapes up.
Brussels is also being cautious. Ms. Kallas added during her remarks on Monday that the European Union was “ready to open” its embassy in Damascus, “to really have our eyes and ears on the ground.”
She said that the new government was saying the right things — its leaders have pledged to liberate the country from oppression. But she added that it would be important to see those statements translate into actions.
“Syria’s future is fragile but hopeful,” Ms. Kallas said. “We need to also give space to make the right steps.”
Syria conducts very little trade with Europe, largely because of a sweeping sanctions program that the European Union started to construct shortly after an uprising that started in 2011 against decades of authoritarian rule by the Assad family.
The Assad family — Bashar al-Assad succeeded his father, Hafez, who came to power in 1971 — implemented a vast security state with secret police and prison networks notorious for brutal torture tactics against political opponents.
During the uprising, rights groups warned that those prisons had become mass extermination sites, killing thousands of detainees.
As the rebellion devolved into civil war, Mr. al-Assad’s military unleashed heavy bombardment on cities across the country, including the use of chemical weapons, and imposed monthslong sieges.
The campaign forced a vast displacement of Syrians across the country and forced millions to seek refuge abroad. Around one million went to Europe.
Since the fall of Mr. al-Assad, E.U. leaders have emphasized that Syria’s new government must respect human rights while resisting terrorism.
As the foreign ministers gather in Brussels, they are set to discuss several issues. Although ties with the United States relations are on the agenda, as is the Belarusian election, Syrian sanctions are perhaps the most closely watched item.
“We have this step-for-step approach,” Ms. Kallas said. “If they make the steps, then we are willing to make the steps as well.”
