The European Union (EU) announced on Wednesday the abolition of a wide range of economic sanctions previously deposited by war destroyed by Syria. This step follows the heels of similar sanctions provided by the United States under former President Donald Trump.
However, the EU decision comes with reservations because Brussels also imposed new sanctions on individuals and armed groups accused of involvement in violent attacks on civilians during the recent unrest in the Coast area of Syria.
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EU sets rider to lift sanctions from Syria
According to the text of the European Council to decide the EU decision to cancel sanctions for the abolition of sanctions on Syria, they quoted violations of human rights or “security reasons”, such as the extended family of former Syrian President Bashar Assad or her chemical weapons program.
The European Union’s decision slapped “restrictive measures” for two people and three armed groups that were accused of “targeting civilians and especially the alawite community” – referring to a religious minority to which Bashar Al -assad belongs – during violence on the coast and torture and “any civilian killing”.
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Alawite community in Syria
Alawites are a minority ethnoreligical group that lives primarily along the Syrian Mediterranean coast, especially in the areas of Latakia and Tartus, as well as in parts of Homs, Hama and Damascus.
Alawites, who make up about 10 to 13 percent of the Syria population, follow a different sect of Islam with the roots in early Shiite traditions and incorporate elements from different religious beliefs.
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Historically marginalized under the government of Sunni control, their social and political status changed dramatically when Hafez Al-Assad, Alawit, took power in 1970, leading to the dominance of community in the Syrian army, intelligence and political elite.
The Assad family, including Bashara Al-Assad, belongs to this community, which was often displayed as a protector of Syrian minorities.
Donald Trump alleviates sanctions on Syria
At the beginning of this month, Donald Trump was surprised that he had announced the extensive release of US sanctions on Syria, a country destroyed for more than decades of civil war.
At the Summit of the Council for the Persian Gulf in Trump, he said that “ordered sanctions against Syria to give them a new beginning,” he describes sanctions as “really paralyzing” and “very powerful”.
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The US Ministry of Finance quickly followed the general license 25 (GL 25) and effectively suspended many sanctions that have reduced business and investments in Syria since 2011.
The Ministry of Foreign Affairs also issued an 180 -day surrender to the Caesar law, which allowed investment in vital sectors such as electricity, energy, water and hygiene.
Assad’s fall, the rise of Ahmad al-Sharaa in Syria
The EU decision to cancel sanctions comes as a result of deep political changes in Syria. On December 8, 2024, after a longer and brutal civil war, the Bashar Al-Assad regime, which ruled Syria with an iron fist for more than 13 years, was overthrown.
Assad’s departure to Russia meant a historical turning point for Syrian people who tolerated extensive repression, chemical attacks and mass relocation during their reign.
In the vacuum that followed, Ahmad al-Sharaa, a former rebel commander who led an offensive that did not give Assad, was appointed as a temporary president.
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The Al-Sharaa government has undertook to continue the political transition and national reconciliation, and at the same time promised to be responsible for responsible responsibilities for violence.
However, the situation remains fragile. In March 2025, intensive clashes broke out in the coastal region of Syria, especially around Latakia, where armed loyal groups to Assad began attacks against security forces.
This confrontation launched retaliatory violence focused on the Alawite minority community, which Assad belonged.
The human rights organization has stated extensive abuse, including torture and arbitrary killing, which forced the EU to store new sanctions on specific groups of militias and their leaders involved in these attacks.
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What does the EU sanction for Syria mean?
The removal of most EU economic sanctions is indicated by a cautious but promising step towards healing Syria. It increases the limitation of the financial system and the wider economy of the country and potentially prepares a journey for increased trade, investment and reconstruction efforts.
However, the EU has retained sanctions against individuals and entities associated with human rights violations, security threats or the inner circle of the former Assad, including those involved in chemical weapons programs.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the conditional nature of this step and stated that sanctions could be restored if the new Government in Syria cannot maintain peace and comply with human rights.
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Kallas described the decision as “simply the right thing, at this historical time to actually support the recovery of Syria and the political transition that meets the aspiration of all the cheese.”
Kallas described this step as “the right thing” to promote the recovery and political transition of Syria.
Given that more than 90% of the gravs living in poverty and electricity supply are limited to just a few hours a day, the relief of sanctions is a decisive step towards rebuilding the country.
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The release of sanctions will remove one of the main obstacles to the reconstruction of Syria, which would estimate the United Nations in 2017 at least $ 250 billion. Some experts who quoted AFP now say that the number could reach at least $ 400 billion.
(Tagstotranslate) European Union (T) Sanctions for Syria
