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The head of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, on Friday, during the first visit to Damascus since the fall of the regime of Baszara al-Asada, announced the unblocking of the cooperation agreement between the EU and Syria, which had been suspended in 2011. This will once again open Syria’s access, among other things, to the EU market.
Von der Leyen, together with the President of the European Council, Antonio Costa, met on Friday in Damascus with the Syrian president, Ahmed al-Szara.
During the meeting, the President of the European Commission also announced that the EU would provide Syria with 620 million euros in aid for the years 2026 and 2027. “This financial support will, of course, include humanitarian aid, but also support for early reconstruction and bilateral assistance. This entire package is essential to help the government restore basic services for the population and rebuild state institutions,” von der Leyen said.
She noted that in the first half of this year there will be a high-level dialogue between the EU and Syria. According to her, it will serve to examine how the EU can support this country, which has been plunged into civil war for nearly 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 rise in tensions that in the past week led to intense fighting in Aleppo. Clashes broke out there between government forces and Kurdish fighters opposing al-Szara’s rule. According to Syrian authorities, the fighting forced more than 140,000 people to flee their homes and caused the death of at least seven civilians.
Syria was one of the stops on the Middle East tour of the leaders of EU institutions. On Thursday they paid a visit to Jordan, and on Friday – also to Lebanon.
“We came here to send a clear signal of our support for a democratic and inclusive transition and for the Syrian people,” Costa emphasized. “After many years of war and suffering for your people, the fall of the al-Asada 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 remained suspended since 2011. The outbreak of violence at that time dashed Syria’s chances of signing the association agreement, which was already ready then.
The head of the European Commission recalled that the EU lifted the sanctions imposed on Syria last year and also invited the European Investment Bank (EIB) to resume its activities in the country.
“After years of devastation caused by the Asada regime, Syria needs renewal. I have just seen this with my own eyes,” she stressed.
“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. (09.01.2026)
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