BRUSSELS Jan. 14 (EUROPA PRESS) –
Spain, together with Germany and four other countries of the European Union, propose that the European bloc work to lift some economic, financial and energy sanctions against Syria, with a view to improving the situation of the civilian population, although they condition any decision on a peaceful and inclusive transition on the ground.
Given the fall of the Bashar al Assad regime and the steps taken by the new Syrian authorities, led by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al Sham (HTS), a group of countries made up of Germany, Spain, France, the Netherlands, Finland and Denmark , at the German initiative, advocate that European sanctions be a tool to promote a peaceful and inclusive political transition in Syria that protects minorities in the country.
As Europa Press has learned, the initiative is based on the preliminary document designed by Berlin a week ago in which it is put on the table to lift sanctions against the energy, electricity, transport or banking sectors, understanding that these restrictions have a great impact on the civilian population of Syria.
On the other hand, the proposal calls for maintaining punitive measures against specific individuals related to the Al Assad regime. The EU has more than 300 people and 80 entities on its ‘blacklist’ for the repression launched by Damascus against its own population after the civil war that broke out in the country in 2011.
To lift the restrictions, these countries emphasize that it will be important to judge the actions taken by the new authorities in Syria and raise the idea of a mechanism to make the relief of sanctions reversible, so that they can be reestablished again if there is a turn. of events on the ground.
In any case, the approach will be brought to the table of the foreign ministers of the 27 at the meeting at the end of January in Brussels where it is expected to reach a principle of political agreement to advance the relief of certain sanctions. Regarding the milestones that the EU will set to reverse its actions, the debate between ministers must substantiate the red lines that the EU sets, in coordination with the bloc’s External Action Service to draw up a common position on Damascus.
Regarding the sanctions on HTS, which is currently considered a terrorist organization by the EU and is sanctioned by the United Nations for its relationship with Al Qaeda, these countries are open to possible exclusion from the UN sanctions list, pointing out that it is in the Security Council where the issue should be taken. This step will be taken according to the evolution of events in Syria and the behavior of the group that has a jihadist past, as various voices in Brussels recall.
This same Monday, the Minister of Foreign Affairs, European Union and Cooperation, José Manuel Albares, explained that Spain is willing to support the lifting of EU sanctions against Syria as long as the new authorities respect a series of red lines, such as respect for the rights of women or ethnic minorities in the country. Precisely this Thursday Albares travels to Damascus to meet with the transitional authorities headed by Ahmed al Shara.
Meanwhile, the EU High Representative for Foreign Policy, Kaja Kallas, has also been in favor of the 27 taking steps in the “gradual relief” of the sanctions against Syria, if there is “tangible progress” for the democratic transition.
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