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.

France is lifting some sanctions against Syria, French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot told reporters on Monday as top diplomats from the European Union met in Brussels to discuss a coordinated

European Union top diplomat Kaja Kallas said on Monday that she hopes EU foreign ministers will be able to agree on gradually suspending the bloc's economic sanctions on Syria. Ministers are to decide on a "roadmap" for a step-by-step approach,

EU foreign ministers were in Brussels to discuss lifting some sanctions on Syria after the fall of Bashar Assad's regime. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot said Hungary could drop its veto on Russian sanctions.