European Union Lifts Sanctions on Syria's Ministers, Moves to Restore Trade Relations
The European Union lifted sanctions on Syria's Interior and Defense Ministers and agreed to restore trade relations through a cooperation agreement suspended since 2011, following the collapse of Bashar al-Assad's regime.
European Union foreign ministers reached an agreement on Monday, May 11, to lift sanctions against Syria's Interior and Defense Ministers, according to Reuters on May 12. Kaja Kallas, the EU's foreign affairs chief, announced that EU foreign ministers have agreed to restore improved trade relations with Syria by reinstating a cooperation agreement that was suspended in 2011. The agreement had been frozen following the uprising against former Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose authoritarian regime subsequently collapsed into a devastating civil war that lasted more than 14 years.
