EU Restores Syria Relations, Boosts Trade

The European Union plans to deepen its engagement with Syria by relaunching formal political contacts and paving the way for closer economic and security ties. This policy shift includes resuming the 1978 cooperation agreement and initiating a High-Level Political Dialogue on May 11. The European Union will also 'reframe and adapt' its sanctions regime to maintain leverage while engaging with Syria's leadership. Syria, under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, is seeking broader international integration after the ousting of Bashar al-Assad in late 2024. The plans outline increased economic engagement, including trade and investment frameworks, private sector funding, and reforms to improve Syria's business environment. The European Union will also work with Syria on facilitating the return of over 1 million Syrian refugees, half of whom are in Germany. Syria is being positioned as a critical transit hub for regional connectivity projects, such as the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, and for energy transport, especially after the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. Turkey, Syria, and Jordan have agreed to upgrade railway networks to create a corridor linking southern Europe to the Gulf. On security, the European Union may support training for Syrian police and institutional capacity-building, alongside cooperation on counterterrorism and addressing drug trafficking. The European Union also backs an agreement between Damascus and Kurdish-led authorities, which includes integrating local institutions and expanding rights for Syrian Kurds, exemplified by the appointment of a People s Defense Units commander as a deputy defense minister.