Most Western sanctions over Syria remain despite the regime changes

Brussels/Washington/Istanbul

Western sanctions on Syria remain largely intact, despite the fall of the 61 -year -old Ba’athist regime and to set up a new government.

The sanctions were initially imposed on the Bashar Assad regime in response to the civil war, human rights violations and war crimes, in order to stop violence and encourage reforms. However, the Syrian people were the one who wore these economic restrictions.

The sanctions have significantly affected the economy and political landscape in Syria, blocking reconstruction and development efforts. The EU has done initial measures to ease some restrictions, but no full scale reversal has been implemented.



Partial EU suspension of sanctions

The EU foreign ministers decided in Brussels to suspend sanctions targeting key sectors, such as bank, energy and transport. However, the term “suspension” suggests that these measures could be reinstalled at any time, leaving the uncertainty about a complete lifting of restrictions.

Several financial institutions, including the Industrial Bank, the People’s Credit Bank, the Save Bank, the Agriculture Cooperative Bank and the Arabian Arabian Arabian companies have been eliminated from the EU sanctions list. In addition, restrictions were facilitated at the Central Bank in Syria, allowing them to receive funds and economic resources.

The EU also introduced exemptions to the ban on banking relations with Syria, allowing energy, transport, humanitarian and reconstruction transactions. Luxury goods and personal use objects can now be exported to Syria, although the sanctions targeting the Assad regime officials remain in force.

The EU has justified the decision as an effort to support an inclusive political transition, recovery and stability in Syria. Since May 2011, the block has suspended all the bilateral cooperation with Syria and imposed a number of individual and institutional sanctions, including freezing, travel prohibitions and sectoral restrictions.

The US maintains sweeping sanctions despite some exemptions

Unlike the EU, the US continues to apply one of the most comprehensive economic sanction regimes against Syria, despite some exemptions introduced in January.

The US Treasury has given a six -month renunciation, allowing transactions with certain government agencies, as well as specific energy and remittances to facilitate humanitarian aid. The renunciation aims to ensure the provision of basic services, including electricity, energy, water and sewerage throughout the country.

However, the sanctions remain in force against Assad, its associates, the current Syrian government, the central bank and the Hay’at Tahrir Al-Ham (HTS) group.

The American sanctions in Syria dates back to 1979, but have intensified significantly after the outbreak of the civil war in 2011. The initial restrictions included prohibitions on defense and sales, controls on civil and military goods and financial restrictions. Over time, these sanctions have extended to include commercial energy prohibitions, restrictions in the financial sector and measures targeted against high officials.

Caesar Law, which continued to collect sanctions, specifically concerned foreign persons and foreign entities that engage with the Assad regime, aiming to arouse the government’s ability to function and isolate it from the global system.

UN sanctions and previous measures

In 2005, the UN imposed travel prohibitions and freezing assets, especially suspected persons involved in the assassination of former Lebanese prime minister Hariri, on February 14, 2005. These measures were largely directed to Syria, due to its alleged role attack.

Despite the regime’s change, Syria continues to face substantial economic and political restrictions, with only limited adjustments from the Western powers.

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