Union suspends sanctions on key economic sectors, says Ursula von der Leyen
The EU plans to increase its pledge for Syrians to around €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026, the European Commission president announced Monday.
“Syrians need greater support, whether they are still abroad or they decide to go home, and this is why today, the European Union is increasing its pledge for Syrians in the country and in the region to almost €2.5 billion s for 2025 and 2026,” Ursula von der Leyen said at the 9th international conference in support of Syria held in Brussels.
Reiterating the need to rebuild cities and restart the economy, she said: “There are entire cities to be rebuilt and all the economy to restart, and this is why we have suspended our sanctions on key economic sectors. This includes energy transport and the financial transactions that are linked to them, and we are ready to do more to attract the necessary investments for reconstruction.”
She also called the Syrian authorities' commitment to protect minorities and to form an inclusive government to be “vital” for reconciliation.
The European Commission president also said that they are planning to hold the civil society dialogue on the Brussels conference in Damascus, underlining that all Syrians “deserve to take their future into their hands.”
“The future of Syria is for all Syrians to build, those who always fought for freedom and those who just discovered hope, those who fled and those who stayed. This must be the promise of the new Syria, and we will do everything that is possible so that this can be fulfilled,” von der Leyen added.
- Host communities for Syrians: Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas also announced that they pledge over €720 million for 2025 to support people within Syria, as well as Syrian refugees and the vulnerable host communities in Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.
She also said that they would also pledge €750 million for Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Türkiye.
“We welcome the number of positive steps the transitional government took over the past three months. These include the agreement reached last week between the Syrian authorities and the Syrian Democratic Forces,” Kallas added.
She also expressed their intention to support with €4 million a verification mission to Syria deployed by the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons.
“The recent wave of violence has highlighted the fragility of this transition. We strongly condemn the attacks, particularly those targeting civilians. They must be addressed swiftly and decisively. We welcome the establishment of an independent investigative commission by the authorities which must credibly investigate these acts,” Kallas said, referring to violence in coastal Syria.
She further said not all parties want the transition in Syria to succeed and added: “These parties include Daesh and Assad loyalists, but also Russia and Iran, who supported Assad's regime, we see malign attempts to derail the transition, be it by fueling violence or information manipulation online.”
UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres pointed out that Syrian economy lost around $800 billion in GDP and urged the international community to invest in Syrian future.
“Funding for the humanitarian response continues to fall short,” Guterres underscored, reiterating UN's commitment to help Syria.
EU Commissioner Hadja Lahbib also pointed to the need to assure that the return of Syrian refugees remains “voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable,” also commending the “extraordinary efforts” of Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq, and Egypt in hosting Syrian refugees.
-UN, Italy, Romania
UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi also reiterated the significance of making sure that the Syrian refugees can visit their homes “without fear of losing legal status, access to rights.”
He noted that many European countries and others are debating whether to prioritize security over aid, emphasizing that while security is important, it is often framed as being at odds with international assistance.
“This is not just morally wrong, it is also a huge strategic mistake, because aid contributes to stability for Syria, for its neighbors, for Europe and beyond,” Grandi added.
Italian Foreign Minister Antonio Tajani also announced on X that he would meet with his Syrian counterpart Asaad Al-Shaibani in Rome – who is attending the Brussels conference – expressing Italy's aim to work towards a “peaceful and inclusive political process” in Syria.
Romanian Foreign Minister Emil Hurezeanu also met with Shaibani, expressing “support for a Syrian-led peaceful and inclusive political transition and for the preservation of Syria's sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity,” Romania's Foreign Ministry announced on X.
Since 2017, the EU has held an annual donor conference in support of Syria during which the bloc offers grants and aid to war-devastated Syria and to countries hosting Syrian refugees.
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