EU says it will lift sanctions on Syria but leave those on former Assad regime

European Union foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas speaks to the media as she arrives for a meeting of EU defence ministers at the European Council building in Brussels on Tuesday (Virginia Mayo/AP)

The European Union will lift sanctions on Syria’s economy but keep those in place targeting the former Assad regime, the EU’s top diplomat announced on Tuesday.

Foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas spoke after chairing a meeting of foreign ministers from the 27-member bloc. She said the decision was designed to avert poverty and radicalism in the country after more than a decade of civil war sent millions fleeing, including to Europe.