Paris Talks on Recovered Funds
Syrian and French officials meeting in Paris agreed to invest roughly €54 million (EUR) in funds confiscated from Rifaat al-Assad into development projects inside Syria. The director of international cooperation at Syria's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates, Qutayba Qadish, held the talks with France's special envoy to Syria, Jean-François Guillou, on 7 November 2026.
The two sides agreed to establish a joint governance committee to oversee the projects financed by the money and to exchange specific project proposals within the following week.
How the Money Will Be Used
The €54 million consists of assets confiscated from Rifaat al-Assad. Officials described the sum as capital to be channeled into projects that serve the Syrian population.
Directing the money into development would mark a notable transfer of recovered assets into a domestic investment program rather than leaving it unused.
A Wider Partnership
Alongside the envoy, the Syrian official met the deputy director of the French Crisis and Support Center, Yannick Tagan, and representatives of the French Development Agency and Expertise France. The discussions covered current and planned projects and preparations for new agreements.
The most prominent initiative on the table is a €32 million program known as "Al-Fajr," aimed at supporting the private sector, startups, and microfinance.
From Intent to Implementation
The understanding builds on a declaration of intent signed in July 2026 between the Syrian and French foreign ministers, Asaad al-Shaibani and Jean-Noël Barrot, concluded in Damascus within a broader package of agreements witnessed by Presidents Ahmad al-Sharaa and Emmanuel Macron.
Further agreements are expected to be signed at a Syria-France partnership forum scheduled for 17 November 2026.
What It Signals
The arrangement points to deepening economic engagement between Damascus and Paris at a time when Syria is seeking external financing for reconstruction. Converting recovered assets and donor programs into committed projects, rather than pledges, will be the test of whether the money reaches the ground.