Syrian Overseas Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. File
| Picture Credit score: AP
The European Union is to push Monday (Could 11, 2026) for a revival of ties with Syria because it seems to bolster the war-ravaged nation, with a watch on prospects for Syrian migrants in Europe to in the future return house.
The bloc’s Overseas Ministers will meet in Brussels with Syrian prime diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani to kick off a high-level “political dialogue” 18 months after the ouster of strongman Bashar al-Assad.
An EU official stated the intention was to again reconstruction of the nation devastated by greater than a decade of civil struggle that despatched thousands and thousands fleeing overseas, and the place “the fact on the bottom continues to be appalling”.
Some 13 million Syrians — almost half the inhabitants — depend upon meals help, the official stated. Wants are monumental, and the EU has already pledged 620 million euros ($730 million) in assist for the 2026-2027 interval.
However Syria’s stability additionally pursuits many EU nations as a result of its nationals have made up the lion’s share of asylum-seekers within the bloc over a decade — and there’s a push for big numbers to finally return house.
“We’d like the Syrian transitional authorities to reach bringing stability to the nation, as a result of that is in our curiosity,” stated one EU diplomat.
A number of offers in playing cards
The 27-nation bloc launched a brand new chapter with Syria after Mr. Assad was swept from energy in December 2024.
European Fee chief Ursula von der Leyen promised after assembly President Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus in January that Europe would “do the whole lot it may possibly” to help Syria’s restoration.
Final month, the fee proposed that EU states totally reactivate the bloc’s cooperation settlement with Syria — a step anticipated to be authorised on Monday (Could 11).
The deal — abolishing duties on imports of most industrial merchandise from Syria — was partially suspended in 2011 when Mr. Assad ruthlessly cracked down on protests in the beginning of the civil struggle.
Earlier than, Syria-EU commerce had peaked at greater than seven billion euros ($9.1 billion on the 2010 alternate price) in 2010. By 2023, EU imports from the nation had dwindled to 103 million euros, whereas European exports to Syria stood at 265 million euros.
Wanting forward, the EU desires a extra bold affiliation settlement, just like these struck with different nations within the area resembling Egypt, Israel and Lebanon — although officers say that objective stays a means off.
Within the meantime, the EU desires to facilitate entry to financing for Syrians — essential to revive the financial system — and to help farmers, for instance with irrigation pumps.
It’s also on observe to signal a deal to rehabilitate a serious hospital within the western Homs area.
Voluntary returns
On the delicate matter of Syrian migrant returns, Germany — house to the EU’s largest Syrian diaspora at greater than one million — is on the entrance line.
Chancellor Friedrich Merz has embraced more durable migration insurance policies as he seeks to counter the far proper — and he triggered a backlash by declaring throughout a go to by Syria’s president final month that he hoped 80% of Syrian refugees would return house inside three years.
He later clarified this was a determine put ahead by Mr. Sharaa himself. Danish authorities have been outspoken in pushing for Syrians to go house.
However on the EU degree there is no such thing as a query of forcing Syrians to go away, a European official stated. There’s a consensus that the circumstances will not be prepared for large-scale voluntary returns, stated Julien Barnes-Dacey, Center East and North Africa director on the European Council on Overseas Relations.
“Most Europeans are cognisant of the fact that for the second circumstances on the bottom will not be bettering quick sufficient, significantly within the financial sphere, to steer Syrians to pack up their lives in Europe and head house,” he stated.
An EU official stated the main focus was “engaged on stability, on Syria’s financial restoration — as a result of that actually is the trail for individuals to have the ability to go house in sustainable circumstances.”
However the fee additionally desires to determine a “straight and common dialogue” on returns with Damascus, the official added, saying the matter “will clearly characteristic” in Monday’s (Could 11) talks.
Revealed – Could 11, 2026 01:00 pm IST