2026-01-09 15:19
publication
2026-01-09 15:19
On Friday, during the first visit to Damascus since the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, announced the unblocking of the cooperation agreement between the EU and Syria, suspended in 2011. This will reopen Syria's access, among others. to the EU market.
Von der Leyen, together with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, met Syrian President Ahmed al-Shara on Friday in Damascus.
During the meeting, the President of the European Commission also announced that the EU would provide Syria with EUR 620 million in aid for 2026 and 2027. – This financial support will include, of course, humanitarian aid, but also support for early reconstruction and bilateral support. This entire package is necessary to support the government in restoring basic services to the population and rebuilding state institutions, von der Leyen said.
She noted that a high-level dialogue between the EU and Syria would take place in the first half of this year. According to her, it will be used to examine how the EU can support this country, which has been immersed in civil war for almost 14 years.
“We want Syrians to have a real prospect of returning home and rebuilding their lives here,” von der Leyen added.
The head of the European Commission also expressed concern about the increase in tensions, which led to intense fighting in Aleppo last week. There were clashes between government troops and Kurdish fighters opposed to al-Shara's rule. According to the Syrian authorities, the fighting has forced more than 140,000 people to flee their homes. people and the death of at least seven civilians.
Syria was one of the stops on the Middle East tour of leaders of EU institutions. On Thursday they visited Jordan, and on Friday – also in Lebanon.
“We have come here to send a clear signal of our support for a democratic and inclusive transition and for the Syrian people,” Costa stressed. “After many years of war and suffering for your people, the fall of the Assad regime has opened a new era of hope,” he added.
Von der Leyen announced a return to the cooperation agreement that was concluded between the EU and Syria in 1977, but has been suspended since 2011. The outbreak of violence then ruined Syria's chances of signing the already ready association agreement.
The head of the European Commission recalled that the EU lifted sanctions imposed on Syria last year and also invited the European Investment Bank (EIB) to resume operations in this country.
– After years of devastation caused by the Assad regime, Syria needs renewal. I saw it with my own eyes, she emphasized.
– We would like to start talks on resuming our cooperation agreement so that Syria can once again benefit from access to the European economic market, von der Leyen said. (PAP)
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