“The Council aims to facilitate engagement with Syria, its people, and businesses, in key areas of energy and transport, as well as to facilitate financial and banking transactions associated with such sectors and those needed for humanitarian and reconstruction purposes,” the EU said in a statement.

European Union countries on Monday suspended a range of sanctions against Syria with immediate effect, including restrictions related to energy, banking, transport and reconstruction. The EU has a range of sanctions in place targeting both individuals and economic sectors in Syria.

On Monday, the Council decided to maintain lists linked to the Al-Assad regime, but approved the lifting of wide-ranging sanctions on key industries such as the energy, transport and financial sectors.