The European Union has agreed to lift economic sanctions on Syria while maintaining restrictions related to the Assad regime and human rights violations. EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also announced a review of the EU-Israel trade agreement, citing the worsening humanitarian crisis in Gaza and urging Israel to allow aid access.
00:00EU Foreign Ministers on Tuesday agreed to lift economic sanctions on Syria, the bloc's foreign policy shift Qajar Qala said.
00:09The European Union's policy shift comes after President Donald Trump said last week he would order the lifting of US sanctions on Syria.
00:19The European Union's top diplomat also said that there will be a review of EU's trade agreement with Israel amid the untenable situation in Gaza.
00:27On Syria, the ministers agreed to lift all economic sanctions while maintaining those related to Assad regime and human rights violations.
00:38This decision is reversible and conditional also on progress.
00:44There can be no peace without the path to economic recovery and we all need a stable Syria.
00:51Is everything really ideal there? No, it is not. It's very clear.
00:59But I think we need to give the Syrian people a chance.
01:04It is clear from today's discussion that there is a strong majority in favor of review of Article 2 of our association agreement with Israel.
01:13So we will launch this exercise and in the meantime, it is up to Israel to unblock the humanitarian aid.
01:22Saving lives must be our top priority.
01:26International pressure on Israel has mounted in recent days as Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's government has launched a renewed military offensive in Gaza.
01:35Kala said a strong majority of EU foreign ministers' meeting in Brussels favoured such a review of the bloc's association agreement with Israel in light of events in Gaza.
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