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.

Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani is travelling to Syria on Friday to encourage the country’s transition following the ouster of President Bashar Assad by Islamist insurgents, and said Europe should review its sanctions on Damascus now that the political situation has changed.

The US issued a six-month sanctions waiver on the sale of energy, humanitarian supplies and personal remittances

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.

Targeted measures under discussion include easing financial transactions, improving air transport, and reducing sanctions on the energy sector to address Syria’s severe power shortages.

A U.S. sanctions exemption for transactions with governing institutions in Syria is welcome, but "much more significant work ... will inevitably be necessary," the U.N. special envoy on Syria, Geir Pedersen,

The UN envoy for Syria has welcomed the US decision to ease some sanctions against Damascus to enable humanitarian aid deliveries, but called for a greater push for long-term relief. Geir Pedersen's remarks on Wednesday came after the Biden administration this week issued a six-month suspension of sanctions on Syrian governing institutions.