Six member states of the European Union have called for the bloc to temporarily suspend sanctions on Syria in areas such as transport, energy and banking, according to a paper seen by Reuters. EU foreign ministers are set to discuss relaxing Syria sanctions during a meeting in Brussels on Jan.

Germany’s foreign minister says sanctions against Syrian officials responsible for war crimes must remain in place but called for a “smart approach” to provide relief to the Syrian population after last month’s overthrow of President Bashar Assad.

EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib on Friday became the first European Union official to visit Syria since Islamist-led forces toppled longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad last month.

But Germany's foreign minister said sanctions against “Assad’s henchmen who committed serious crimes” must remain in place.

RIYADH (Reuters) - European foreign ministers will meet at the end of January to discuss the lifting of sanctions on Syria, the EU foreign policy chief said on Sunday in Riyadh ahead of a meeting of top Middle Eastern and Western diplomats and Syria's new foreign minister.

Top diplomats from the Middle East and Europe were arriving in the Saudi capital on Sunday to discuss Syria, as world powers push for stability after the fall of Bashar al-Assad.Saudi Arabia, the Middle East's biggest economy,

EU crisis management chief Hadja Lahbib announced a 235 million euro aid package for Syria and neighbouring countries on Friday during a visit to Damascus.

European Union sanctions in Syria that obstruct the delivery of humanitarian aid and hinder the country's recovery could be lifted swiftly, France's foreign minister said Wednesday. The United States on Monday issued a sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria for six months after the end of Bashar al-Assad's rule to try to ease the flow of humanitarian assistance.

Key European Union member states want to suspend some sanctions on Syria to help ensure a peaceful transition of power after the fall of ex-President Bashar Al-Assad and enable displaced people to return home.

The EU, United States, Britain and other governments imposed tough sanctions on Syria after Assad's crackdown on pro-democracy protests in 2011 spiraled into civil war. HTS has renounced its ties with Al Qaeda but is still designated a terrorist entity by the United Nations and U.S.

The sanctions currently in place are primarily against the former government of Bashar al-Assad and his allies.

The country's new rulers have been pushing for sanctions relief since overthrowing Bashar al-Assad's government last month