EU and Syria Open Partnership Talks
Syria's foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, and the European Union's High Representative for foreign affairs and security policy, Kaja Kallas, said on 29 September 2026 that the two sides are preparing a new agreement to replace their 1977 accord. Speaking at a joint news conference at Tishreen Palace in Damascus, they described plans to institutionalize dialogue through joint technical committees.
The meeting marked the first visit by a European official of this rank to Damascus in 15 years. Both sides said the talks covered political, economic and security files.
€60.2 Million for Recovery
Kallas announced that the European Union has allocated 60.2 million euros (EUR) for economic recovery and for strengthening state institutions. She said the bloc is examining mechanisms to finance projects carried out by organizations inside Syria, while the European Investment Bank is studying ways to support infrastructure.
No agreement on infrastructure financing has been reached, and those discussions are continuing. Kallas said attracting private companies would require the rule of law and functioning institutions that protect investors' rights.
Sanctions and a Financial Framework
Kallas said the European Union has lifted economic sanctions on Syria, reactivated a cooperation agreement, and launched a high-level political dialogue in May 2026. Al-Shaibani noted that the bloc lifted sanctions on government bodies, including the defense and interior ministries, on 18 September 2026.
The minister said Syria would be included in the European Union's multi-year financial framework for the 2028–2034 period. A further high-level political dialogue is planned before the summer of 2027.
Diplomacy and Next Steps
Al-Shaibani said Damascus would raise its diplomatic representation to the bloc in Brussels to ambassador level. The two sides plan to prepare a joint scope paper for the new agreement before the end of the first quarter of 2027.
Both described the meeting as a step toward normalizing ties, with technical committees continuing to review security files and earlier agreements. The minister said Damascus hopes to translate the dialogue into tangible economic and institutional support.