Commission Files Formal Proposal
The European Commission submitted a formal proposal to the European Council on 20 April 2026 to fully restore the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement, a trade and cooperation framework suspended since 2011. The move follows a sweeping policy shift toward Syria after the country's political transition in late 2024 and marks the most significant normalization step between Brussels and Damascus in more than a decade.
Alongside the proposal, the Commission allocated a financial support package of approximately 620 million euros (EUR) for 2026–2027, earmarked for humanitarian aid and economic recovery programs.
A Trade Pact Frozen Since 2011
The cooperation agreement dates to 1978. It eliminated customs duties on most Syrian industrial exports to the European Union and prohibited quantitative trade restrictions on both sides, establishing a system of preferential market access between Syria and EU member states.
The EU suspended the agreement in 2011 in response to policies of the previous Syrian government. All EU economic sanctions on Syria were lifted in May 2025, clearing the principal legal barrier to restoring formal economic ties.
620 Million Euros for Recovery
The 620 million euro support package for 2026–2027 covers humanitarian assistance and early recovery and stabilization programs. The European Commission stated that restored relations would focus on "humanitarian assistance and economic recovery initiatives."
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the financial package during her visit to Damascus in January 2026, signaling at that stage that closer cooperation was forthcoming.
Council Approval Before May 11 Dialogue
Formal reactivation of the agreement requires adoption by the European Council, followed by official notification to Syrian transitional authorities. An EU-Syria High Level Political Dialogue is scheduled for 11 May 2026, and procedural steps are expected to be completed before that date.
The Commission described the proposal as part of a three-track approach encompassing political partnership, enhanced trade cooperation, and financial assistance, noting that "relations between the European Union and Syria have entered a new chapter."