Overview

• The EU suspended sanctions on Syria's energy, banking, and transport sectors to aid economic recovery and reconstruction efforts.
• The decision follows the ousting of former President Bashar al-Assad in December and the establishment of an interim administration led by Ahmad al-Sharaa.
• Sanctions on arms trading, dual-use goods, surveillance software, and cultural heritage trade remain in place to monitor developments.
• European leaders emphasized the importance of an inclusive political transition and warned that sanctions could be reinstated if progress stalls.
• The EU also extended exemptions to facilitate humanitarian aid delivery and eased restrictions on luxury goods for personal use.