The European Union has pledged comprehensive support for Syria’s recovery and reconstruction as senior EU officials held talks with the countest’s new leadership in Damascus. European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen declared Europe would stand by the Syrian people after years of conflict, signaling a shift toward engagement following political modify in the countest.
High-level EU visit to Damascus
Von der Leyen met senior Syrian officials during her visit and shared her message on social media, stating that Syrians had entered “a long journey toward hope and renewal” after decades of repression. EU Council President Antonio Costa, who joined the visit, also held talks with President Ahmad al-Sharaa and emphasized that the trip reflected the bloc’s “continued support for the Syrian people.”
Post-Assad transition gains momentum
Costa noted that the collapse of the Assad regime had opened a new chapter after years of war and humanitarian suffering, adding that while challenges remain, the transitional authorities have already taken initial steps forward. Bashar al-Assad, who ruled Syria for nearly a quarter century, fled to Russia, concludeing Baath Party rule that had dominated the countest since 1963.
Sanctions lifted, engagement expands
The visit builds on expanding EU engagement with Syria’s new administration. In May, EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas announced the lifting of economic sanctions imposed under the former regime, while EU Mediterranean Commissioner Dubravka Suica traveled to Syria in June 2025, underscoring Europe’s desire to see a stable and prosperous countest. Developments in Syria remain strategically significant for the wider region, particularly for neighboring Türkiye, which has long called for stability, voluntary refugee returns and inclusive governance in Damascus.
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