The European Council has terminated the partial suspension of its cooperation agreement with Syria, officially restoring full trade relations as the nation seeks to rebuild after nearly 14 years of conflict.
The council stated on Monday that the decision represents a significant step in strengthening ties between the European Union and Syria. This move is intended to provide a “clear political signal” of the bloc’s dedication to re-engaging with the country and assisting its economic rehabilitation.
The announcement coincided with a meeting in Brussels between EU foreign ministers and the Syrian foreign minister, Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani. This high-level political dialogue begins 18 months after the collapse of Bashar al-Assad’s administration in December 2024.
European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica and Foreign Minister al-Shaibani held a joint news conference on 11 May to mark the new diplomatic chapter.
This follows a January visit to Damascus by European Commission president Ursula von der Leyen, who assured interim Syrian president Ahmed al-Sharaa that Europe would provide extensive support for the country’s recovery.
The cooperation agreement, which removes duties on the majority of Syrian industrial imports, was originally partially suspended in 2011 following the previous regime’s crackdown on protesters. The restoration comes after a proposal by the European Commission last month to fully reactivate the deal.
Trade between the two entities has suffered significantly during the war years. In 2010, trade volume reached a peak of over 7 billion euros ($9.1bn). However, by 2023, EU imports from Syria had fallen to 103 million euros, while European exports to the country stood at 265 million euros.
The transition also brings the sensitive issue of refugee returns to the forefront. German chancellor Friedrich Merz, whose country hosts more than one million Syrians, recently indicated a desire for 80 per cent of refugees to return home within three years.
Merz later clarified that this specific target was a figure originally proposed by president al-Sharaa during a visit last month.
