EU Mission Bound for Damascus
A delegation from the European Commission and Syria's finance minister agreed on 20 June 2026 to dispatch a European mission to Damascus in the second half of July to hold specialized talks on public financial management and a range of technical economic and financial files. The delegation was led by the Commission's director for Middle East affairs.
The meeting took place on the sidelines of the annual gatherings of a multilateral development bank in Baku, where the minister was attending sessions devoted to economic recovery. The mission is also expected to hold meetings with the relevant Syrian government bodies during its visit.
Reopening Banking Channels
Talks centered on the obstacles facing European financial institutions and banks that wish to operate in Syria, an area constrained for years by international restrictions. Both sides examined ways to ease financial transactions and transfers between Syria and Europe.
The minister described the bloc as a development partner and pointed to cooperation in the financial sector, in easing transfers, and in industry as a route to reviving trade between the two sides. He also signaled an interest in widening the bloc's contribution to multi-sector development programs.
Investment Conference in the Works
The two parties reviewed preliminary preparations for an investment conference that the Commission intends to hold in Damascus in the coming months. The stated aim is to attract European capital and to support projects tied to the country's economic recovery and the reactivation of its economy.
The delegation indicated that its planned engagement would broaden European involvement in development programs spanning several sectors at once.
Alignment With Recovery Plan
The Commission's representative said European involvement would be shaped to match the Syrian government's priorities and its adopted recovery plan. The forthcoming July mission is expected to focus on public financial management alongside other technical files.
In a related session on recovery and resilience, the minister affirmed that the government is pressing ahead with its economic program. The discussions point to a gradual reopening of financial and economic contact between Damascus and European institutions.