The EU's decision aims to prevent further poverty and the rise of radicalism in Syria, following more than a decade of civil war that has displaced millions, many of whom have sought refuge in Europe as well
The announcement comes a week after US President Donald Trump met his Syrian counterpart Ahmad Al-Sharaa and declared that the United States would ease sanctions on Damascus
However, Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas stated that the sanctions are conditional and could be reinstated if the new government under Ahmad al-Sharaa fails to maintain peace in the country
Lifting the sanctions is expected to bring much-needed investment to Syria, which requires tens of billions of dollars to rebuild its war-ravaged infrastructure after years of civil conflict
The state under Bashar al-Assad's regime has been severely devastated. According to United Nations estimates, 90 percent of Syrians live in poverty, and government-supplied electricity is available for as little as two hours a day, making citizens' lives even more difficult
The sanctions will be maintained on security grounds, including restrictions on arms and technology that could be used for internal repression. According to the EU, additional sanctions will be imposed targeting human rights violators and those fueling instability in Syria
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