Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002149/2025/rev.1
to the Council
Rule 144
Jean-Paul Garraud (PfE)
On 20 May 2025, the European Union announced that it would be lifting its economic sanctions against Syria, while maintaining the sanctions against those related to the Assad regime. The objective given is to help the country rebuild after the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime. However, the new Syrian President, Ahmed al-Charaa, also known as Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, is a former jihadist leader. He led the al-Nusra Front, Syria’s branch of Al-Qaeda, and then Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), considered a terrorist organisation by several countries. Despite this, Brussels has chosen to relax its position, raising questions about the coherence of EU policy, including on human rights and the fight against terrorism.
- 1.How does the Council justify lifting economic sanctions against a government dominated by an organisation that the EU still classifies as a terrorist organisation?
- 2.What guarantees can it provide to ensure that EU funds are not diverted to groups involved in human rights violations?
- 3.Has it assessed the risk of the lifting of these sanctions strengthening actors hostile to European interests and undermining regional stability?
Submitted: 28.5.2025