EU agrees on 'step-by-step' roadmap to start easing sanctions on Syria

The suspension of EU sanctions will be temporary and contingent upon the progress made by the new Syrian authorities.

Transcript

00:00EU ministers of foreign affairs have reached a political agreement to begin easing sanctions

00:13on Syria.

00:15The 27 member states had imposed wide-ranging sanctions on the al-Assad government and Syria's

00:21economy during the civil war.

00:24With Bashar al-Assad gone, the EU seems ready to turn the page with Syria.

00:30This could give a boost to Syrian economy and help the country get back on its feet.

00:36While we aim to move fast, we also are ready to reverse the course if the situation worsens

00:45and in parallel we will scale up humanitarian aid and recovery efforts.

00:51Some EU countries are still worried about moving too fast in embracing the new Islamist-led

00:57rulers in Damascus.

00:59But easing the sanctions will be a step-by-step process.

01:03It will also be reversed if the new Syrian government goes back on its promises of a

01:07democratic transition.

01:10We keep an open mind in relation to Syria.

01:13We want to be constructive, therefore, yes to engagement, therefore, we want to make

01:19sure that Syria will have an opportunity to re-enter to the international community.

01:25We want to make sure that there is engagement, but at the same time issuing a carte blanche

01:32is not an option.

01:34Syria was among the most heavily sanctioned countries by the EU.

01:39Sanctions on the energy, transport and banking sectors are now expected to be eased, while

01:43others such as those on arms sales will remain in place.