The European Union has moved to fully restore its cooperation agreement with Syria by reopening official relations—as it seeks to support the country’s post-war recovery and address long-term migration challenges posed by Syrian migrants.
In Brussels, EU foreign ministers also agreed to reinstate the suspended framework ahead of talks with Syrian interim Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. The decision marks a significant shift in EU policy just 18 months after the ouster of former leader Bashar al-Assad.
An EU statement said the move
sends a clear political signal of the EU’s commitment to re-engage with Syria and support its economic recovery.
Trade provisions of the agreement had been suspended in 2011 following the outbreak of the Syrian civil war.
EU officials stressed that any deeper cooperation will depend on reforms in governance, transparency, and rule of law. Commissioner Dubravka Šuica said future agreements would require a
solid commitment to the rule of law and transitional justice.
The renewed engagement comes amid ongoing political debate over migration policy regarding Syrians. German chancellor Friedrich Merz’s claim that Syria supports large-scale returns of its nationals has been contradicted by the country’s interim president. The German chancellor stated in Berlin, alongside Syrian interim president Ahmed al-Sharaa, that around 80% of the Syrians currently living in Germany should return to Syria within three years. But now the Syrian leader denies ever having said anything of the sort.
Today, nearly one million Syrians live in Germany. To reach the target figure concocted by the chancellor, around 800,000 people would have to leave the country before 2029.
