The European Union has implemented sanctions against Syria in the energy, transportation and banking sectors, effective from Monday. The measures aim to support an “inclusive political transition” and the country’s economic recovery, according to a statement from the Council.
This decision follows a political agreement reached a month prior, with the EU stating that it will continue to closely monitor the situation in Syria and reassess the need for further sanctions.
Siemens, among other companies, is now permitted to resume repairs on Syria’s power grid. However, uncertainty remains regarding the potential impact of the US sanctions, which are currently set to expire in mid-year.
In December, a rebel alliance led by the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) overthrew the then-president, Bashar al-Assad. Since then, a transition government has taken power in Damascus. The EU had initially imposed sanctions on Syria in 2011 in response to the Syrian conflict, targeting various sectors of the economy.
In 2013, the US designated the self-proclaimed president of Syria, Muhammad Al-Jaulani, as a terrorist. According to the US, Al-Qaida in Iraq had tasked Al-Jaulani with toppling Bashar al-Assad’s rule and establishing an Islamic caliphate in Syria. The Al-Nusra Front, the precursor to HTS, was accused of promoting a violent, sectarian vision and carrying out suicide bombings that resulted in the deaths of civilians.