Some European Union sanctions against Syria are being lifted, France's foreign minister said on Monday, as part of a broader EU move to help stabilise Damascus after the ousting of President Bashar al-Assad in December.

EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas said she expected the bloc to agree Monday to begin easing sanctions on Syria after the ouster of Bashar al-Assad."It is a step for step approach," Kallas said at the start of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels to discuss the move.

Once Syria's most influential minority, Alawites struggle to move on from their association with a hated dictator.

The European Union may soon suspend sanctions against Syria. In particular, it concerns energy and transportation, Reuters reports. According to the three diplomats and a document seen by Reuters, the European Union has not yet agreed on whether to ease restrictions on financial transactions with regard to Syria.