European foreign ministers have agreed to convene at the end of January to discuss the possibility of lifting sanctions on Syria, following a regional meeting in Saudi Arabia with diplomats from Western and Middle Eastern countries.
This was the first time of having such meeting since President Bashar al-Assad’s fall last month.
Kaja Kallas, the European Union’s foreign policy chief, announced on Sunday that the foreign ministers would meet in Brussels on January 27 to explore how the 27-member bloc might address the issue.
During the talks in Riyadh, Kallas emphasized that the EU seeks an inclusive government in Syria that avoids signs of “radicalization” and upholds the rights of women and marginalized groups. She stressed that any shift on sanctions could be reversed quickly if needed.
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Saudi Arabia’s foreign minister, Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud, called for the removal of sanctions, stating that their continued imposition hinders Syria’s potential for development and reconstruction.
Syria’s new Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, who has repeatedly advocated for the lifting of long-standing sanctions, attended the talks alongside ministers from countries such as Saudi Arabia, Egypt, the UAE, Qatar, Bahrain, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon, and Turkey.
The discussions also saw the participation of U.S. Undersecretary of State John Bass, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock, and British Foreign Secretary David Lammy.
A statement issued by Saudi Arabia’s foreign ministry later that evening reiterated calls for the lifting of sanctions to support Syria’s reconstruction. It also expressed concerns over Israel’s actions in the occupied Golan Heights, and stressed the need to support Syria’s rebuilding as a unified, sovereign Arab state.
Al Jazeera’s Mohammad Jamjoom, reporting from Damascus, noted that the Riyadh meeting placed a stronger focus on sanctions than the December 14 meeting in Aqaba, which primarily addressed the entry of humanitarian aid as Syrians continue to suffer from the sanctions.
“These sanctions that have been in place for so long have made it very difficult to import or export raw goods,” he said.
“That means prices are always sky-high when it comes to essential goods, including food and medicines. It also means Syrians can’t bring in much fuel, so there are power outages all the time.”
The conference comes as Syria’s newly established administration, headed by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), has called for Western sanctions to be lifted in order to facilitate international funding into Damascus.
Analyst Rob Geist Pinfold notes that the Biden administration and European countries are shifting towards policies aligning with HTS’s request, with the potential for sanctions to be frozen or removed.
“The US has indicated it will freeze sanctions on key sectors, such as payments to public sector workers or energy supplies, which is crucial,” said Pinfold, a lecturer at King’s College London, speaking to Al Jazeera.
He explained that many of the sanctions imposed were secondary, meaning that both US citizens and foreign entities conducting business with Syria faced penalties.
This Monday, the US granted a six-month exemption for transactions with Syrian governing institutions, effective after the end of al-Assad’s rule, to facilitate humanitarian aid.
In recent days, Germany, Italy, and France have called for a relaxation of EU sanctions on Syria. However, any final decision on this will require consensus from all EU member states.
Key areas being considered for relief include sanctions hindering Syria’s economic recovery, such as restrictions on banking services. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized this in Riyadh.
German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock stated that sanctions targeting al-Assad’s allies, who are responsible for war crimes, should remain in place.
“But Germany advocates for a targeted sanctions approach, aiming to provide relief to the Syrian population,” she said. “Syria needs to see tangible benefits from the transition.”
The HTS-led rebel offensive on December 8 ousted President al-Assad, and the newly formed caretaker government appointed Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani as foreign minister.
The new administration is eager to see sanctions lifted to demonstrate that the revolution has brought tangible improvements to the lives of Syrians. According to Galip Dalay, senior consulting fellow at Chatham House, “Until the government delivers on expectations from the West, assistance will be limited to humanitarian aid.”
Dalay added that Syria’s real needs go far beyond humanitarian relief and include extensive reconstruction. He noted that Western countries have yet to show full commitment without visible steps from Syria’s new rulers.
The Riyadh meeting, which included Syria’s new leadership and senior Western officials, was the first of its kind. It follows prior diplomatic discussions in Rome and Jordan, where regional stakeholders raised concerns about Syria’s new government and the steps needed for international recognition.
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