On Friday, during her first visit to Damascus since the fall of Baszara al-Asad‘s regime, Ursula von der Leyen, the head of the European Commission, announced the renewal of the cooperation agreement between the EU and Syria, which had been inactive since 2011. This development will restore Syria’s access to the EU market, among other benefits.
During the visit, von der Leyen and Antonio Costa, the President of the European Council, met with Syrian President Ahmed al-Szara.
Von der Leyen revealed that the EU plans to provide Syria with 620 million euros in aid for 2026 and 2027. This support will encompass humanitarian assistance as well as aid for early reconstruction and bilateral efforts. “This package is crucial for helping the government to restore basic services and rebuild state institutions,” she commented.
She also mentioned a high-level dialogue scheduled for the first half of this year between the EU and Syria, aimed at exploring ways the EU can assist the war-torn nation, which has been embroiled in civil conflict for nearly 14 years.
“We want Syrians to have a viable opportunity to return home and rebuild their lives,” von der Leyen stated.
In light of recent escalations in Aleppo, where clashes between government forces and Kurdish fighters resulted in intense fighting, von der Leyen expressed concern. These confrontations displaced over 140,000 individuals and resulted in the deaths of at least seven civilians, according to Syrian officials.
This visit to Syria was part of a Middle East tour undertaken by EU leaders, which included stops in Jordan and Lebanon.
“We are here to convey a strong message of support for a democratic and inclusive transition alongside the Syrian people,” Costa remarked, adding that the ending of the al-Asad regime heralds a new era of hope after years of conflict.
Von der Leyen announced the intention to restart the cooperation agreement established in 1977, which has been suspended since 2011 due to the outbreak of violence that hindered a potential association agreement.
She noted that the EU lifted sanctions against Syria last year and encouraged the European Investment Bank (EIB) to recommence its operations in the country.
“Syria requires renewal after years of devastation from the al-Asad regime. I witnessed this firsthand,” she emphasized.
“We aim to initiate discussions on resuming our cooperation agreement to enable Syria to regain access to the European economic market,” von der Leyen concluded. (09.01.2026)
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