The European position towards the interim government in Syria has once again become ambiguous, despite the European Economic Community (EEC) declaring its support for the new government and expressing willingness to cooperate in efforts to resolve the country’s ongoing crisis.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke of conditions for any further sanctions relief. Is Brussels reconsidering its broader approach to Damascus, and what might the future hold for relations between the two sides?
On Monday, Kallas called on the Syrian Interim Government to take “certain steps” for additional sanctions to be lifted. “EEC has not seen sufficient progress from the new Syrian authorities to justify further easing of sanctions,” she said during a press conference following a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Luxembourg.
Kallas noted that the foreign ministers had engaged in a focused discussion on Syria, especially regarding the possibility of easing more sanctions. She stressed that any future decisions on sanctions relief would depend on the fulfilment of a set of conditions by the new leadership in Damascus, though she did not specify what those conditions were.
She also stated that the EEC intends to prepare technical details outlining the requirements for lifting European restrictive measures on Syria, describing the country’s future as “fragile but still holding some hope.”
Kallas emphasised that EU foreign ministers had agreed to continue assessing the situation, following the EEC’s earlier partial easing of sanctions. She added, “The Union will propose next steps, taking into account the conditions and red lines we are committed to.”
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European Demands
Tariq Ageeb, a researcher in political affairs and international relations, told +963 that the recent remarks by the EU foreign policy chief do not signal a change in the European stance. Rather, they reaffirm a consistent position, one that ties any shift in policy to a set of demands previously discussed with the officials of the new Syrian government.
According to Ageeb, the EU’s conditions for sanctions relief and any policy shift include inclusive participation in the political process without exclusion, the elimination of terrorist groups, and the establishment of security across all Syrian regions. Additional conditions relate to the foreign policies of the new government, both with neighbouring states and concerning the Russian presence in Syria.
In late February, the European Union announced a partial easing of sanctions on Syria, including in the oil, electricity, and gas sectors. It also removed five Syrian financial institutions from the EEC’s list of restricted entities: the Industrial Bank, the People’s Credit Bank, the Savings Bank, the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, and Syrian Airlines.
Under the decision, financial resources were also made available to the Central Bank of Syria and its affiliated financial and banking institutions, particularly for humanitarian purposes.
Differences and Intersections
Syrian politician and journalist Aqil Hussein stated that Kallas’s comments do not indicate a shift in the EU’s position on the new Syrian government, nor do they suggest a broader policy review. He pointed out that differences exist within the EEC itself and that recent actions by the Syrian government have not met European expectations.
He emphasised that the new government must respond to external demands while addressing the aspirations of the Syrian people. In remarks to +963, he said, “This government recognises that there are many overlapping interests between Damascus and the European Union. Therefore, they are working on several issues simultaneously. Disagreements on certain files do not imply a change in policy or a threat to relations. Rather, consensus remains possible across various matters, including the Syrian refugee file.”
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Identification with American Attitude
“No one in the region or the world can cross U.S. red lines or bypass sanctions on Syria to begin reconstruction or offer genuine economic support to the new Syrian administration, whose position with the U.S. government remains unclear,” said Tariq Ageeb.
He noted that European countries are bound by American red lines concerning Syria, particularly when it comes to lifting sanctions and initiating reconstruction. Despite increasing engagement with the new administration by Arab, regional, and European actors, no party has yet been able to provide substantial economic assistance due to ongoing U.S. sanctions.
Aqil Hussein supported Ageeb’s assessment, stating that the EU’s position aligns with Washington’s stance. However, he added that the EEC or individual European countries may still pursue actions in the Syrian context independently of the U.S. position.
In late March, a joint statement by Kaja Kallas and other European commissioners affirmed the Union’s welcome of the formation of the new Syrian government and its readiness to cooperate in addressing the significant challenges ahead.
At the Brussels Conference, donor countries, including EU member states, pledged a total of €5.8 billion ($6.3 billion) in aid to Syria. This amount included €4.2 billion in direct donations and €1.6 billion in financial loans extended to the new Syrian government.
Since the fall of the Assad regime in early December, key European countries, particularly France, Germany, and Italy, have demonstrated notable openness to the new Syrian authorities. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock both visited Damascus during that month
They held meetings with the then-President of the Transitional Administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, before Syrian Interim Government Foreign Minister Asad al-Shibani was later invited to participate in the Paris Conference on Syria on 13 February, and the Brussels IX meeting on 17 March.
