“Renew Europe” calls for lifting the coercive economic measures imposed on Syria

MADRID, (ST)- Some members of the Liberal European Group “Renew Europe” (RE) have signed a petition addressing the High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell in which they called for lifting the coercive economic measures imposed on Syria, Cuba, Venezuela, Iran, Libya and Democratic Korea amid coronavirus crisis.

The petition, which was signed by Javier Nart, the Spanish member of the European Parliament (MEP) and Hilde Vautmans, a Belgian politician and coordinator in the foreign affairs committee of Renew Europe, said that “experts from the United Nations and humanitarian organizations have repeatedly called for lifting the economic sanctions which dangerously  impede these countries’ ability to respond to the urgent health situation caused by COVID-19 outbreak.  These sanctions also hamper the work of financial institutions and donors relating to providing medical and food supplies.”

Members of Renew Europe suggested that the European Union- in coordination with the UN and international partners- lifts the coercive economic sanctions imposed on the above mentioned countries as a transitional procedure amid the ongoing global health crisis. The group’s member also suggested that the European Council gives Josep Borrell complete authority to arrive at solutions that can contribute to effectively easing the coercive measures within a specific period of time.

 Renew Europe is a new political group and is the third largest one in the current European Parliament.

Hamda Mustafa