Kallas hopes EU ministers agree to lift Syria economic sanctions

20/5/2025 19:18

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Tuesday that she hoped ministers gathering in Brussels would reach an agreement on lifting economic sanctions on Syria.



"On Syria, I hope that we will agree on the lifting of economic sanctions today," Kallas told reporters ahead of the meeting, warning that Europe either gives Syria the opportunity to stabilise or risks ending up with a situation like in Afghanistan.



Ministers are considering a political decision to lift economic sanctions while maintaining sanctions related to the regime of ousted president Bashar al-Assad and introducing measures against human rights violators, officials said.



Ambassadors reached a preliminary deal early Tuesday on the political agreement to lift economic sanctions, diplomats said, noting that the final decision is up to ministers.