Syria? European Union wants to strengthen partnership with Damascus

Brussia “uses its political and economic instruments to help Syria move towards an inclusive and peaceful transition,” Kaja Kallas said at a joint press conference with Syrian counterpart Assaad al-Chaibani in Damascus.

In 2011, the EU suspended cooperation with Syria due to the repression of peaceful protests against the regime of former President Bashar al-Assad, who eventually launched a civil war (2011-2024).

The conflict ended with the fall, at the end of 2024, of the Assad regime following an offensive by a coalition led by the current Syrian interim President Ahmad al-Sharaa, who commanded the Islamic group Syrian Levant Liberation Organization (Hayat Tahrir al-Sham or HTS, in Arabic).

The EU decided last May to reactivate the trade cooperation agreement with Syria to help stabilise the country and prepare for the return of Syrian refugees established in the EU during the war.

“ We now seek to mobilise even more investments and strengthen our partnership. But this also depends on the Syrian part”, added the chief of diplomacy of the bloc of 27.

Kallas explained that “foreign or national investments need confidence, and trust requires security: clear rules, the rule of law, effective institutions, but also the equal participation of women in society”.

“This also goes through transitional justice and national reconciliation,” Kallas added.

Europe will do “everything in its power” to help rebuild Syria, last January it promised President Ursula von der Leyen, after meeting with the Syrian President in Damascus.

The Commission “is already making €620 million available to respond to reconstruction-related humanitarian needs and to strengthen institutions,” said the EU’s head of diplomacy today.

For his part, the Syrian Foreign Minister underlined the current executive’s efforts to restore security in the country.

“ We have been active partners (...) in the fight against illegal immigration, drugs and trafficking in human beings,” said Assaad al-Chaibani.

“ We discussed ways to strengthen Syrian coast guard capabilities,” he added.

Kallas also said that through EU foreign policy instruments, the 27 have already mobilised “EUR 51.5 million, including around EUR 18.85 million for the removal of undetonated mines and explosive devices”.

“ Clearly, aid alone is not enough to rebuild Syria. Foreign and domestic investment requires trust, and trust requires security, clear rules, the rule of law, institutions that function, but also equal participation of women in society. We are ready to help build the institutions, and it is good that we address these issues,” added the EU's head of diplomacy.

Damascus now tries to relaunch its economy and attract investments after thirteen years of a war that caused more than 500,000 deaths and devastated the country's infrastructure.

The return to stability in Syria is also of interest to some EU Member States that welcome hundreds of thousands of Syrians who have fled the war.