foreign ministers were likely to agree on lifting some sanctions on , officials said on Monday ahead of a meeting in Brussels.
Hungary was also expected to drop its veto to the extension of sanctions against .
EU to suspend sanctions for Syria ‘stabilization’ — France
French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said that the easing of sanctions would apply to the energy, transport and financial sectors.
“Regarding Syria, we are going to decide today to lift, to suspend, certain sanctions that had applied to the energy and transport sectors and to financial institutions that were key to the financial stabilization of the country,” Barrot said after arriving at the foreign ministers’ meeting.
The Reuters news agency cited EU top diplomat Kaja Kallas as saying that she was hopeful an agreement on easing sanctions could be reached.
Bashar Assad’s regime in Syria was toppled by rebel groups on December 8.
The EU has called for Syria’s new authorities and respect human rights, including those of .
During Syria’s 13-year civil war, and cut off diplomatic and financial ties, citing the Assad regime’s abuses.
EU likely to renew Russia sanctions
Barrot also said that a deal had been struck under which .
“The sanctions will be renewed,” the French foreign minister said.
In order for the penalties on Moscow to continue, the EU’s 27 member states must unanimously approve the rollover by January 31.
Budapest had said it wanted to wait for the inauguration of US Donald Trump before agreeing to the continuation of the sanctions regime. Trump had previously to end Russia’s invasion.
On Friday, Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban threatened to veto the renewal, calling on the EU to pressure Ukraine to reopen a gas pipeline supplying Hungary and other Central European states.
Ukraine on New Year’s Day.
The AFP news agency cited diplomats as saying that the EU had agreed to read out a statement on Hungary’s energy security in exchange for Budapest’s support for the extension.
sdi/rmt (Reuters, AFP)
The post France says EU could agree to ease Syria sanctions appeared first on Deutsche Welle.
