This article was automatically translated from HIBAPRESS, the Arabic version:
Hibapress
The Council of the European Union, representing the 27 Member States, announced on Monday the suspension of a set of sanctions against Syria, in order to “support an inclusive political transition” in this country.
The twenty-seven decided to “suspend a certain number of restrictive measures in view of the situation in Syria”, within the framework of the efforts made by the EU to “support an inclusive political transition in Syria, as well as an economic recovery , a rapid reconstruction and stabilization of the country, “the council said in a statement.
The Union intends to facilitate dialogue with Syria, its population and its companies in key fields of energy and transport, as well as financial and banking transactions linked to these sectors and those necessary for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes, we say.
Thus, the Council has notably decided to suspend sectoral measures in the energy sectors (including oil, gas and electricity) and transport and to withdraw certain banks and the airline of Syria from the list of Entities subject to the freezing of funds and economic resources, in addition to authorizing the provision of funds and economic resources at the Syrian Central Bank.
The Community Bloc has also introduced certain exemptions to the prohibition to establish banking relations between banks and Syrian financial institutions in the territory of the Member States, in order to authorize transactions linked to the energy and transport sectors as well that “transactions necessary for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes”.
In addition, the Council said that it will assess the possibility of suspending other economic sanctions in progress, while continuing to “follow closely the situation in the country to ensure that these suspensions remain appropriate”.
