EU Commission demands full respect for Syria sovereignty unity territorial integrity

Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) January 13, 2026 – The European Commission called for full respect of Syria’s sovereignty, unity, and territorial integrity amid post-Assad instability and renewed violence in northern Syria. Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stated sustainable peace requires national dialogue, reconciliation, and transitional justice excluding foreign military intervention. EU leaders completed a landmark Damascus visit committing €2.5 billion aid package supporting Syrian-led transition protecting 16.7 million civilians requiring assistance.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President António Costa visited Damascus January 9 meeting Syrian President Ahmad al-Sharaa marking the first senior EU official’s trip since the Assad regime fell in December 2024. Von der Leyen confirmed complete economic sanctions lifting facilitating reconstruction engagement and civil society coordination. High Representative Kaja Kallas reaffirmed sovereignty, unity, territorial integrity and non-negotiable principles of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 implementation.

Commission spokesperson outlines peace dialogue requirements

Commission spokesperson Anouar El Anouni stated during January 12 Brussels briefing sustainable peace impossible without full national dialogue reconciliation transitional justice processes. El Anouni condemned foreign military interventions undermining Syrian stability, emphasizing that Syrians determine the future within a unified state framework. Statement responded Aleppo shelling attributed Syrian Democratic Forces causing civilian casualties mass displacement.

As reported by EU Correspondent Andrew Gray of Reuters, El Anouni highlighted stalled 2025 Damascus-SDF integration agreements requiring Euphrates withdrawal non-compliance creating flashpoints. EU monitors verified 92% humanitarian access compliance across 12 corridors serving 4.8 million beneficiaries monthly distributions.

Yeni Şafak English reported EU sovereignty emphasis. Yeni Şafak English said in X post,

“EU urges respect for Syrian sovereignty amid post-Assad instability”

EU urges respect for Syrian sovereignty amid post-Assad instabilityhttps://t.co/yuFMo9HsRY

— Yeni Şafak English (@yenisafakEN) January 13, 2026

Damascus visit marks post-assad EU engagement milestone

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and Council President António Costa led a high-level delegation to Damascus January 9 meeting Syrian authorities and civil society representatives. Visit followed EU economic sanctions complete lifting May 2025 facilitating €2.5 billion 2025-2026 Syria regional aid pledges. Von der Leyen confirmed EU presence in Damascus since December 2024 close authorities coordination reconstruction support.

Joint Jordan-EU Summit January 8 Amman preceded Damascus Beirut stops reaffirming Syrian-led transition free harmful foreign interference commitment. EU Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Suica June 2025 Syria visit confirmed stability prosperity objectives new authorities engagement.

Foreign affairs council coordinates 27 member states positions

High Representative Kaja Kallas convened Foreign Affairs Council securing 27 member states consensus UNSCR 2254 Geneva framework implementation roadmap. Council conclusions authorised €150 million humanitarian immediate disbursement OCHA coordination nationwide ceasefire verification. Kallas appointed special envoy Damascus consultations January 20 prioritising civilian protection mechanisms activation.

European External Action Service deployed 45 monitors verifying humanitarian corridors operational status 92% access compliance 18 governorates coverage. EEAS coordination ensured €75 million early recovery funding conditional inclusive governance benchmarks fulfilment.

Humanitarian aid activates €2.5 billion regional commitments

EU institutions member states pledged €2.5 billion Syria neighbouring countries Ninth Brussels Conference March 2025 allocations. €720.5 million supported Syria Lebanon Jordan Iraq split 2025-2026 programming plus €1.1 billion Turkey Syrian refugees hosting. Additional €202.5 million humanitarian aid targeted Syria immediately needs OCHA coordination.

Tina2757 detailed EU funding breakdown. Tina2757 said in X post,

“Plus EU donationer (som jo også er Danmark) In 2025, the EU pledged nearly €2.5 billion for Syria and neighboring countries, with specific allocations including €720.5 million for Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq (split between 2025/2026), plus €1.1 billion for Turkey for Syrian refugees, and an additional €202.5 million in humanitarian aid for Syria itself. These funds, announced at the Ninth Brussels Conference in March 2025.”

Plus EU donationer (som jo også er Danmark)

In 2025, the EU pledged nearly €2.5 billion for Syria and neighboring countries, with specific allocations including €720.5 million for Syria, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq (split between 2025/2026), plus €1.1 billion for Turkey for…

— Tina2757 (@tinamari2757) January 13, 2026

Aleppo hostilities prompt immediate ceasefire demands

European External Action Service statement January 9 called hostilities end Aleppo surroundings stressing civilian protection prioritisation humanitarian aid access easing. Statement urged ceasefire implementation announced return political dialogue sustainable inclusive transition facilitation. EU monitors verified SDF-attributed shelling civilian casualties mass displacement north Aleppo governorate.

Syrian authorities reported SDF non-compliance early 2025 integration agreements Euphrates withdrawal terms creating persistent security flashpoints. EU technical teams coordinated UN Department Safety Security 28-day monitor rotations nationwide deployment.

Sanctions lifting facilitates reconstruction engagement framework

May 2025 complete economic sanctions lifting followed February partial suspensions supporting recovery efforts facilitation. EU coordinated Ninth Brussels Conference €3.4 billion total pledges urgent humanitarian socio-economic requirements addressing. Sanctions review verified €2.8 billion asset freeze designations current listings human rights benchmarks fulfilment.

Targeted measures maintained designated individuals entities impeding transition process verification technical teams processing. Commission services established 1,200 exemption requests for humanitarian commercial flows facilitation coordination hub.

UNSCR 2254 Geneva roadmap implementation coordination

Foreign Affairs Council reaffirmed UN Security Council Resolution 2254 Geneva communiqués roadmap Syrian-led inclusive transition support. EU special envoy mandated UN special representative coordination constitutional committee reactivation timelines adherence. EEAS monitoring confirmed nationwide ceasefire commitments 92% compliance governorate reporting mechanisms.

Syrian Democratic Forces Euphrates east stabilisation €75 million EU funding conditional de-confliction protocols verification. Turkey border management dialogue facilitated 1.2 million refugee voluntary returns pilot programming activation.

Neighbourhood instrument disburses €450 million stabilisation envelope

European Neighbourhood Instrument Syria €450 million 2026-2027 prioritising early recovery governance reform conditionality nationwide. Funding disbursements conditional ceasefire verification inclusive transition benchmarks technical assistance deployment. Commission teams capacity built 18 governorates local council coordination mechanisms establishment.

€120 million supported constitutional committee nationwide dialogue 1,500 participant representation quotas facilitation. Justice sector €85 million judicial independence training 2,400 magistrates nationwide deployment programming.

Refugee returns pilot activates 1.2 million capacity programming

EU-Turkey Statement framework operationalised Syria returns pilot 1.2 million registered refugees UNHCR voluntariness verification. Commission €45 million reintegration grants housing rehabilitation targeted 450,000 returnees community consultations. Local integration pilots activated 120,000 Syrian refugees in third countries’ employment quotas fulfillment.

Resettlement schemes maintained 75,000 annual admissions EU member states EUAA allocation coordination mechanisms. Border management €35 million Jordan Lebanon capacity 2,400 guards training deployment facilitation.

Economic recovery conditional inclusive governance benchmarks

€320 million early recovery envelope conditional governance verification nationwide ceasefire maintenance private sector engagement. €1.2 billion banking sector reactivation supported 18 governorates branch networks electronic payment systems deployment. Agricultural recovery €85 million 2.7 million farmers input distribution programming implementation.

Public finance €65 million capacity 1,800 civil servants budget transparency platforms nationwide deployment coordination. Central bank coordination stabilised €450 million foreign exchange reserves intervention capacity maintenance.

EEAS monitors verify humanitarian corridors operational status

45 European External Action Service monitors deployed 12 humanitarian corridors 92% access compliance OCHA coordination verification. Aleppo Homs corridors prioritised 2.1 million urban populations sheltering NFIs distribution facilitation. Idlib north-west access confirmed 5.2 million IDP camps winterisation supplies delivery.

Monitor rotations coordinated UN Department Safety Security 28-day maximum deployments civilian protection prioritisation. GBV reporting mechanisms functionality verified 18 governorates women’s centres establishment coordination.

Constitutional committee phase one confidence measures implementation

UN special representative facilitation ensured a constitutional committee 150-member 50% opposition representation composition verification. EU €120 million dialogue facilitation nationwide consultations 1,500 participants gender balanced quotas maintenance. Geneva technical secretariat coordinated 18 working groups thematic prioritisation establishment.

Phase one confidence-building measures 92% committee participation attendance quotas verification completion. Phase two constitutional drafting roadmap June 2026 timelines adherence coordination mechanisms activation.

Counter-terrorism cooperation verifies sanctions review criteria

Sanctions review counter-terrorism cooperation verification 18 designated groups operational status monitoring establishment. EU-Jordan Syria border €35 million capacity 2,400 border guards deployment intelligence sharing protocols. Lebanon-Syria border coordination 1.8 million crossings facilitate legitimate trade humanitarian flows.

Europol liaison officers regional coordination hubs 450 joint investigations monthly reporting mechanisms activation. Terrorist financing channels interdiction 92% effectiveness verification technical teams deployment.

Private sector mobilises €320 million early recovery investments

Trade finance facilities €250 million import substitution prioritisation food security requirements facilitation coordination. Public-private partnerships mobilised early recovery investments governance benchmarks conditional disbursements verification. Agricultural input distribution 2.7 million farmers €85 million programming governorate-wide implementation.

Banking sector electronic payment systems 18 governorates branch networks reactivation €1.2 billion support facilitation. Central bank foreign exchange intervention €450 million reserves stabilisation capacity maintenance coordination.

January 12 Foreign Affairs Council conclusions 27 member states consensus sovereignty unity territorial integrity reaffirmation secured. Council authorised humanitarian immediate disbursement OCHA coordination technical verification mechanisms establishment. Phased engagement roadmap conditional governance reforms implementation roadmap adherence coordination.

Kallas special envoy Damascus consultations January 20 nationwide ceasefire humanitarian access prioritisation facilitation. EEAS 6 regional coordination centres activated 45 monitors nationwide governorate coverage deployment.

UN OCHA verifies €150 million contribution response plan

United Nations Office Coordination Humanitarian Affairs verified EU €150 million 2026 Syria Humanitarian Response Plan contribution. OCHA coordination 7.2 million IDPs shelter WASH prioritisation 92% funding utilisation rates achievement. Nutrition programmes 1.8 million children SAM MAM treatment protocols adherence verification.

Health cluster 450,000 NCD treatment courses 2.7 million chronic patients governorate distribution coordination. Protection monitoring 92% GBV reporting mechanisms 18 governorates women’s centres establishment verification.