EU adopts legal acts to lift economic sanctions on Syria

BRUSSELS - The European Union (EU) adopted legal acts on Wednesday to lift nearly all of its economic sanctions on Syria, enacting a political agreement announced on May 20 aimed at supporting the country's recovery and transition, according to a press release by the Council of the EU.

The EU would lift all restrictive measures related to trade, investment and financing, except those based on security grounds, said the press release.

As part of the package, 24 entities, including the Central Bank of Syria and companies in key sectors such as oil production and refining, cotton and telecommunications, were delisted from the EU's fund-freezing regime.

Several media and television outlets were also removed from the sanctions list, according to the Council.

In parallel, the Council extended sanctions on individuals and entities linked to the former government until June 1, 2026, and imposed new measures targeting two individuals and three entities responsible for serious abuses during the wave of violence in Syria's coastal region in March 2025.