EU Agrees to Gradual Easing of Syria Sanctions Following Assad’s Ouster

The European Union plans to suspend select sanctions while retaining leverage over Syria’s new Islamist-led government.

EU foreign ministers have approved a roadmap to ease sanctions targeting Syria's energy, transport, and financial sectors to aid reconstruction efforts.
The sanctions relief is conditional on Syria’s new leadership demonstrating progress on inclusivity, human rights, and political reforms.
The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which now holds power in Syria, remains under EU sanctions as it is classified as a terrorist organization.
The EU will maintain a 'snap-back' mechanism to reimpose sanctions if Syria's new government fails to meet expectations or backslides on commitments.
The United States, which has maintained stringent sanctions on Syria, has yet to signal whether it will follow the EU’s lead in easing restrictions.