For the first time since the fall of Bashar Assad's regime in Syria, the EU is considering lifting sanctions in a variety of sectors. But the bloc wants to keep leverage over the Islamist group now in power.

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said on Wednesday she hopes a political agreement on easing Syria sanctions can be reached at a gathering of European ministers next week. EU foreign ministers will discuss the situation in Syria during a meeting in Brussels on Jan.

EU sanctions include bans on oil imports from Syria, as well as a ban on investment in the Syrian oil industry and a freeze on any Syrian central bank assets in the EU. The proposed roadmap indicates some existing sanctions, including those related to arms and entities linked to the Assad regime, would not be suspended.

The new administration's approach to governing must include "different groups" and women, and "no radicalization", the European Union's foreign-policy chief said.

Germany’s foreign minister says sanctions against Syrian officials responsible for war crimes must remain in place but called for a “smart approach” to provide relief to the Syrian population after last month’s overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

Türkiye expects the European Union to offer a brand-new vision that will strengthen Türkiye’s membership process, Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan

Syria's top diplomat said Wednesday that lifting economic sanctions imposed during the rule of ousted president Bashar al-Assad was "key" to restoring stability in the war-torn country.For weeks, Syria's new authorities have been lobbying Western powers to scrap restrictions that had targeted Assad's administration over his brutal 2011 crackdown on anti-government protests,

The sanctions currently in place are primarily against the former government of Bashar al-Assad and his allies.

Italy has signalled its willingness to act as a bridge-builder between Syria and the European Union after the fall of long-term ruler Bashar al-Assad. "Italy is ready to play its part in promoting the reform process in Syria,

The European Parliament voted on Thursday to condemn the death penalties for two Kurdish women in Iran, who it says were denied fair trials.

Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan hosted the EU’s foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas for a meeting in the capital Ankara on Friday. It marks Kallas’

Kallas said EU foreign ministers will look at how to ease sanctions during a Jan. 27 meeting in Brussels. “But this must follow tangible progress in a political transition that reflects Syria in ...