EU Moves to Lift Syria Sanctions

(MENAFN) The European Union has moved to lift sanctions on Syria's interior and defense ministers, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced Monday, signaling a significant recalibration of Brussels' approach toward Damascus following years of diplomatic deep-freeze under the Bashar Assad era.

"We also agreed to lift the sanctions on Syria's interior and defense ministers," Kallas told reporters after chairing a gathering of EU foreign ministers in Brussels, framing the decision as part of a concerted effort to reset ties and underpin a political transition in the war-scarred country.

Syria Cooperation Agreement Fully Restored
Beyond the sanctions relief, EU ministers voted to fully reinstate the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement — previously operating under partial suspension — and confirmed plans to open a high-level political dialogue with Syrian authorities later in the day, marking a further step in normalizing engagement with the post-Assad administration.

Hormuz Tensions Prompt Security Posture Shift
Kallas also signaled that the EU is moving to accelerate its security and defense presence in the Strait of Hormuz, saying the bloc is preparing to "frontload" cooperation in the waterway amid a deteriorating regional security environment. She cautioned that conditions remain volatile in the wake of recent developments involving Iran.

Ministers held discussions on strengthening the EU naval mission Aspides — tasked with safeguarding maritime security and freedom of navigation — and examined the mission's potential role in supporting wider international efforts to stabilize the corridor.

West Bank Trade Measures on the Table
The session also took up trade restrictions tied to Israeli settlement activity in the West Bank, with a number of member states urging Brussels to go further. Kallas confirmed that the European Commission would continue developing possible proposals in that domain.

Ukraine: Battlefield Gains, Accession Momentum
Attention then turned to Ukraine, where Kallas struck a notably more optimistic tone than in recent months, telling ministers that Kyiv now finds itself in a "much better position than a year ago" on the battlefield.

Discussions on security guarantees in a potential truce scenario touched on expanded satellite surveillance capabilities, with Kallas firmly insisting that Kyiv must remain at the center of any future peace architecture.

On the accession front, Kallas praised what she characterized as "remarkable reform progress" achieved by Ukraine under extraordinarily difficult conditions, urging member states to seize the moment.

"There is now new momentum, and we must use it to advance Ukraine's path into the EU. This means opening all the negotiation clusters before summer," she said.

MENAFN12052026000045017169ID1111100969