The European Union (EU) on Monday eased certain sanctions against Syria, including the oil embargo, so as to help the civilian population and support the opposition in that country.

According to a statement issued by the EU Foreign Affairs Council in Luxembourg, the 27-member bloc gave green light to three types of transactions: imports of oil and petroleum products, including related finance and insurance; exports of key equipment and technology for the oil and gas industry to Syria, also including related finance and insurance; as well as investments in the Syrian oil industry.

The EU requests competent authorities will consult with the Syrian National Coalition for Opposition and Revolutionary Forces, before approving any such transaction, and ensure that the transactions do not circumvent EU sanctions against Syria, in particular the asset freezes on those associated with the violence in Syria.

The EU import ban on Syrian oil and petroleum products was imposed in September 2011.