A Push to Clear the File
Syria's finance minister, Mohammad Yasser Barnieh, has called for accelerating the settlement of non-performing loans owed to the European Investment Bank, urging a designated committee to complete its work within set deadlines. He made the remarks on 27 June 2026 while chairing the committee's meeting.
The minister said the objective is a practical mechanism, balanced in legal and financial terms, that preserves the rights of the parties involved while supporting economic activity.
Decree No. 70 Framework
The committee was formed under Decree No. 70 of 2026, issued by President Ahmad al-Sharaa on 20 March 2026. The decree sets out terms for settling debts and defaulted credit facilities across the financial system.
Its provisions include waiving late and contractual interest and penalties, and rescheduling debts whose value exceeds 100 million Syrian pounds (SYP), within conditions defined in the text of the decree.
Who Sits on the Committee
Membership brings together judges, advisers, and experts in banking and legal affairs. It also includes representatives of the Central Bank of Syria, the Central Authority for Financial Oversight, and the relevant state-owned banks.
Chambers of commerce and industry are represented as well, with the stated aim of preparing comprehensive remedies for the loan file rather than piecemeal fixes.
Balancing Creditors and Borrowers
Barnieh said the solutions sought should be equitable, weighing protection for banks and financial institutions against relief for struggling borrowers. He framed the effort as a way to help reactivate the economic cycle.
He pressed the committee to finish its assigned tasks on schedule and to arrive at a legal and financial mechanism that resolves the file in a balanced way.
A Wider Reckoning
The loan file forms one strand of Syria's evolving relationship with foreign creditors and financial institutions, handled here through a dedicated legal track rather than ad hoc negotiation.