EU to Provide $722m in Aid for Syria Recovery

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Damascus: European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced that the European Union will provide around $722 million to Syria this year and next to support post-war recovery, humanitarian assistance, and bilateral cooperation. The announcement was made during her visit to Damascus, signalling a renewed phase of engagement between the EU and Syria after years of conflict.

Von der Leyen said Syria’s needs for recovery and reconstruction remain enormous following more than a decade of war, noting that she witnessed the scale of destruction firsthand. She emphasised the EU’s commitment to helping the Syrian people rebuild their lives, infrastructure, and institutions as part of a broader effort to support long-term stability.

She also revealed that the European Union intends to begin discussions on reviving a cooperation agreement with Syria and launching a new political partnership. This would include holding high-level talks in the first half of the year, following the EU’s decision last year to lift economic sanctions on Syria after the opposition ousted former president Bashar al-Assad.

Addressing the security situation, von der Leyen described the recent escalation of violence in the northern city of Aleppo between government forces and Kurdish fighters as “worrying.” She stressed the need for continued dialogue among all parties, underscoring that political engagement and stability are essential for a successful transition and sustainable recovery in Syria and the wider region.