Brussels (Brussels Morning Newspaper) – Syria’s foreign minister Asaad al-Shibani will participate in an annual EU conference on Syria in Brussels on March 17, 2025. It is the first to be arranged since the transitional government in Damascus was set up following the ousting of the al-Assad regime in December.
As reported by media, European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, EU foreign policy Kaja Kallas, and EU foreign ministers are expected to join the discussion, which will emphasise Syria’s economic recovery, political transition and reconstruction after 14 years of crisis.
How will the EU support Syria’s economic recovery?
A senior EU official said that the bloc hopes to reveal additional funding to support the nation as it “turns a page in its history”, saying that a potential role for the European Investment Bank (EIB) in Syria’s reconstruction is under review.
The official also stated that with Syrians confronting a “harsh reality”, including electricity and water deficiencies as well as dire humanitarian needs, there are worries the US’s sweeping aid freeze could worsen the crisis and that European and other international donors may need to plug the gap.
The European Union has expressed support for the de facto authorities’ efforts to transition Syria towards a stable future. It has also welcomed efforts by the interim government to ensure all segments of Syrian society are represented in the transition, including through an arrangement struck last week with the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), which holds the resource-rich north-east of the nation, to integrate with government forces.
Will the EU increase funding for Syria’s reconstruction?
The conference is likely to see the EU make a further financial commitment towards Syria, which one EU official stated should be to the tune of the €2.12 billion earmarked in last year’s conference. A potential function for the EIB in the country’s reconstruction, which, according to estimates, could command between €230 and €370 billion, is also on the table.
“We also hope countries in the region, including the Gulf region, can push a bit further on the economic side,”
One EU official stated.
