EU Restores Trade Ties and Aid to Reconstruct Syria

The European Union reactivated its 1977 cooperation agreement with Syria on May 11, 2026, terminating a partial suspension imposed in 2011 during the Bashar al-Assad regime. The decision, adopted by the European Council, restores full trade ties and eliminates duties on most Syrian industrial imports to signal a commitment to the country's economic recovery following the fall of the Assad regime in December 2024.

To facilitate the transition, EU foreign ministers met with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani in Brussels for the first High Level Political Dialogue and the Syria Partnership Coordination Forum. Alongside the trade restoration, EU High Representative Kaja Kallas announced the lifting of sanctions against Syria's Interior Minister, Anas Khattab, and Defense Minister, Murhaf Abu Qasra. The EU further committed 620 million euros in aid for 2026-2027 and established a 15 million euro Technical Assistance Hub to strengthen public institutions.

These measures aim to create the conditions for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees. While German Chancellor Friedrich Merz noted a proposal from Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa that 80 percent of refugees could return within three years, EU officials stated that ground conditions remain unsuitable for large-scale repatriation. Syrian officials emphasized that the partnership focuses on sustainable institutional frameworks and restoring confidence in state institutions.