BRUSSELS / DAMASCUS - The European Union (EU) foreign ministers have agreed to begin easing sanctions on Syria, Kaja Kallas, the bloc's high representative for foreign affairs and security policy, announced on Monday.

Speaking to reporters after a meeting focused on geopolitical issues, Kallas said the EU plans to first lift sanctions on Syria that hinder the most the early rebuilding of the country, while sanctions related to arms and arms dealings will remain in place.

"We aim to move fast," she said, adding, "but we are also ready to reverse course if the situation worsens."

Kallas also reaffirmed the EU's support for a two-state solution in Palestine, responding to US President Donald Trump's suggestion of relocating Palestinians to other countries. She emphasized that achieving peace requires equal footing for both states.

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The EU Border Assistance Mission for the Rafah crossing will resume in February, monitoring the Gaza-Egypt border to support the ceasefire, Kallas said, adding that the mission has been endorsed by Palestine, Israel, and Egypt.

On Greenland, a topic raised by Trump, Kallas stressed European unity and the importance of strengthening EU policies instead of just reacting to US actions.

Syria's interim Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shibani on Monday welcomed the decision by the European Union (EU) to suspend sanctions against Damascus for one year, calling it a move that could enhance living conditions for Syrians and support economic recovery.

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In a statement on the social media platform X, al-Shibani said Syria "appreciates the EU's move to halt sanctions" and expressed hope that the suspension would "positively impact all aspects of Syrians' lives and foster sustainable development."

The EU Foreign Affairs Council earlier on Monday agreed to temporarily lift restrictions targeting Syria's energy, transport, and selected financial sectors, according to French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot.

The decision, Barrot said, aims to alleviate humanitarian pressures while urging Damascus to commit to a United Nations-backed political transition, intensify efforts against Islamic State remnants, and dismantle all chemical weapons stockpiles.

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The EU has maintained stringent sanctions on Syria since 2011, citing former President Bashar al-Assad's alleged "war crimes" during the civil war. Assad's government collapsed on Dec 8, 2024, following a 12-day offensive spearheaded by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) and allied militant groups.

Since Assad's ouster, interim authorities led by HTS commander Ahmed al-Sharaa have sought to persuade Western nations to ease sanctions imposed on the former regime.

In a parallel development, the Syrian interim authorities released 275 detainees on Monday from the Central Prison in Homs province, according to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights.

The war monitor reported that the individuals had been vetted and found not to have committed war crimes. The prisoner release follows a large-scale security campaign in early 2025 that saw hundreds of former regime soldiers and civilians detained in Homs and surrounding areas.