Among other things, cooperation and transactions with Syrian banks and financial institutions are reopened regarding transportation, energy, reconstruction, and humanitarian efforts. Additionally, five Syrian banks are removed from the list of those whose assets have been frozen.
At the same time, it is important that we now follow the development in Syria and are prepared to roll back the sanctions again if they do not go in the direction they say they will: an inclusive process where minorities and women are included, says Sweden's Foreign Minister Maria Malmer Stenergard (The Moderate Party) after the meeting.
The sanctions remain in place, however, regarding, among other things, arms trade, surveillance equipment, and import and export of antiques.
In parallel, the EU's foreign ministers discussed the situation in the Democratic Republic of Congo, following the recent successes of the Rwanda-backed rebel group M23.
There is quite broad political support for putting much harder pressure on Rwanda, so that it also has financial consequences for them, says Malmer Stenergard.
