Brussels: The European Union, seeking to promote stability in Syria following the collapse of the 61-year Baath regime, must quickly lift the sanctions imposed on the country, according to a noted foreign policy analyst. The collapse of Syria's 61-year Baath regime and a transitional government's formation highlight the need to lift US and EU sanctions for the nation's economic recovery, said Julien Barnes-Dacey, director of the Middle East and North Africa Program at the European Council on Foreign Relations.

According to Anadolu Agency, Barnes-Dacey emphasized that Europeans need to remain focused on Syria and recognize it as a significant strategic opportunity, considering the past decade's turmoil and Syria's role as a source of instability, refugees, and terrorism. "This is an opportunity to fundamentally kind of change the direction of travel for Syria, to make it a country that is stable within the region, not a source of instability, a country where refugees can choose to go back to," Barnes-Dacey told Anadolu.

He added that the country will undergo a very fragile transition with huge challenges ahead for the new leadership in Syria. Europe has focused more on the actions of the Syrian government than on supporting a positive transition, he argued.

Barnes-Dacey highlighted the "immediate acute needs" in Syria's economy, humanitarian aid, and exemptions from sanctions, which many actors have been calling for since December's fall of the Assad regime. He insisted the EU must act faster despite hesitation and difficulty reaching consensus among the 27 member states. He warned that Europe's long-term political and economic partnership with Syria hinges on an "inclusive transition," cautioning that the situation may unravel more quickly than anticipated, leaving Europeans unable to support the desired transition.

Barnes-Dacey pointed to the restrictive impact of Western sanctions, particularly "US sanctions, more than European sanctions," decrying their role in "exacerbating the economic collapse and the humanitarian crisis on the ground." He noted that the sanctions have restricted humanitarian agencies' ability to operate in Syria due to lack of financial channels, urging that they be lifted to "make for a dramatic change."

Sanctions relief would facilitate more engagement by the Syrian diaspora and humanitarian agencies in Syria while enabling aid from Gulf Cooperation Council states. Barnes-Dacey predicted the possibility of some sanctions exemptions with a "time bound and conditional element" tied to "inclusive transition."

Though Europe is keen to see Syrian refugees choose to go home, Barnes-Dacey cautioned that without stabilizing an inclusive transition and improving economic conditions, few Syrians will return as "they won't see a future for themselves." On the country's new interim administration, led by the leader of the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) group, Barnes-Dacey pointed to some 'cautious optimism' in Europe over HTS as "Europeans see that HTS has gone through an evolution and that it's moderated its position."

HTS has made efforts to reach out to minorities and discuss the need for an inclusive transition, he said. As HTS appears to be moving to a more moderate path, there is a willingness to work with it 'to move the group and Syria in a better direction."

On Israel's current incursions into Syrian territory, which have drawn widespread condemnation, he noted that "Israel is clearly taking advantage of the Syrian state's current weakness to push ahead with its own security agenda," intending to weaken Syria further.

Barnes-Dacey stressed that a successful transition requires "a Syrian state that is not under attack and that has some security capabilities to maintain domestic control and protect itself from threats" and emphasized that Europe must oppose military attacks on the country.