The European Union has announced the suspension of sanctions previously imposed on Syria’s key economic sectors during the country’s civil war.
European nations have stated that the objective of lifting these sanctions is to facilitate engagement with the Syrian populace. The Union further emphasized that should officials of Syria’s new government fail to honor their commitments to respect minority rights and make progress toward democracy, the sanctions will be reinstated.
Syria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Asaad Al-Shibani, welcomed the European Union’s decision, calling it a step toward ending the suffering of Syrians.
It is worth noting that over 500,000 people have been killed in Syria due to more than 13 years of civil war, with the country’s infrastructure devastated and millions of Syrians displaced or forced to flee their homeland.