Brussels, 28 January 2025 (dpa/MIA) - The European Union on Monday agreed to gradually suspend sanctions on Syria weeks after the ousting of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad by rebel forces.

"We reached the political agreement to begin easing sanctions on Syria. This could give a boost to Syrian economy and help the country get back on its feet," said EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas after a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels.

"While we aim to move fast, we also are ready to reverse the course if the situation worsens."

The EU will also scale up humanitarian aid and recovery efforts, Kallas said.

EU foreign ministers decided on a step-by-step approach and to "start with the sanctions that are most hindering the early buildup of the country and to move from there," Kallas said, without providing further details.

Syria's interim government welcomed the decision, calling it a "positive step."

Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani said Damascus hoped that the sanctionss would be permanently lifted. "We hope that this decision will have a constructive impact on all areas of life for the Syrian people and ensure sustainable development," he said.

Easing the sanctions would be "good news for the people in Syria," said German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock earlier on Monday.

In addition to targeting individuals, the EU imposed extensive import and export bans and restricted financial services to pressure the now-toppled Syrian regime over its human rights violations.

These measures include export bans on a wide range of products, such as technical and electronic equipment, jet fuel and equipment for the oil and gas industry.

The sanctions also encompass an import ban on Syrian oil and petroleum products, along with restrictions on loans and trade.

Ahead of the meeting, EU diplomats stressed that the sanctions would be suspended rather than lifted as a precautionary measure until developments in the country are more clear.

Kallas said that she is considering fully reopening the EU's embassy in Damacus "to really have our eyes and ears on the ground."

The Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), which is largely responsible for the ousting of long-time ruler Bashar al-Assad, is classified as a terrorist organization by the United Nations and also subject to EU sanctions.

Shifting focus to the conflict between Israel and the Palestinian Hamas militant group, EU foreign ministers also discussed the redeployment of its border assistance mission at the Rafah crossing between Gaza and Egypt.

EU countries on Friday approved a revised plan to relaunch the mission which was first established in 2005 to help control the crossings.

There has been no EU presence at the border crossing since the Islamist Hamas militia took power in the Gaza Strip in 2007.

In an initial phase, a low double-digit number of EU border experts and support staff are to be deployed to supervise border checks, if possible from the beginning of February, the diplomats said.

The reopening of the Rafah crossing is part of a three-phase ceasefire agreement between Hamas and Israel, and should enable significant amounts of humanitarian aid to reach Gaza.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani said that the first Italian border guards will travel to the region "in the coming hours."

Tajani added that Italy, Spain and France are the first three EU countries to send personnel to Rafah.

Redeploying the mission would mean that more humanitarian aid would reach Gaza and injured people could be transferred for treatment, Kallas said.

The ceasefire between Israel and Hamas "is the first step and we need to build for more lasting peace," Kallas said.

At their Brussels meeting, ministers discussed Russia's war against Ukraine after a briefing by their Ukrainian counterpart Andrii Sybiha on the situation on the battlefield via video-link.

Gathering for the first time since the inauguration of Donald Trump, EU ministers also addressed the bloc's US relations.

Top diplomats also officially approved suspending visa privileges for Georgian officials over the violent crackdown on pro-European protests in the country after EU ambassadors struck a deal last week.

On Sunday evening, ministers met with Belarusian opposition leader Sviatlana Tsikhanouskaya after the presidential elections in Belarus. The European Parliament has denounced the vote as a "sham."

Photo: MIA archive