Sanctions were levied during the rule of President Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in December.

The European Union has lifted economic sanctions on Syria in a bid to help the war-torn country’s recovery, Reuters reported citing Vice-President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, offering the nation another critical lifeline after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad.

This follows an announcement by the United States last week that it is lifting sanctions on Damascus.