Lift EU sanctions on Syria for 'a very good start', says Syria expert

The EU's notion to lift sanctions against Syria has to be considered a good start, Middle East expert Maria LuisaFantappiè tells Euronews Radio Schuman today.

Fantappiè, from Italian think tank Istituto Affari Internazionali (IAI), says the proposal to lift sanctions would be a start but that more is needed to create the conditions for engaging with the current forces in power. 

The EU plans to remove sanctions on Syrian Arab Airlines and on export of oil and gas technology. It also plans to reopen banking and investment relations between Syria and the EU.

The initiatives, outlined in a council non-paper first reported by Euronews, echo similar demands made by six EU countries, including France and Germany.

These countries emphasized that if the new Syrian government fails to respect human rights and protect minorities, additional sanctions may remain in place, and a snapback mechanism could be introduced to reinstate any sanctions already lifted. Meanwhile, the US recently eased some restrictions for six months to facilitate humanitarian aid in Syria but retained its comprehensive sanctions from the Assad era.

Today we also take a look at changes within the European Commission and the best road trips in Europe.

Radio Schuman is hosted and produced by Maïa de la Baume, with journalist and production assistant Eleonora Vasques, audio editing by David Brodheim. Music by Alexandre Jas.

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