The European Council extended asset freezes and travel bans on individuals linked to the former Assad government.
The European Council has lifted economic sanctions on Syria, allowing a vessel carrying 28,500 tonnes of wheat to dock at Tartous, marking a significant trade milestone post-civil war. This decision, supported by EU foreign ministers, aims to reintegrate Syria into the international community and facilitate reconstruction, although asset freezes and travel bans on former Assad officials remain in place until June 2026. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the importance of this move for supporting a peaceful and inclusive Syria while new sanctions were imposed for human rights violations.
