EU coordinates international support for the recovery of Syria’s economy and reconstruction process
The European Commission, together with the Syrian Transitional Authorities, hosted today the Syria Partnership Coordination Forum in Brussels. This meeting further delivered on the main commitments of the Forum: coordinating and aligning all international efforts on aid, reconstruction, and development with Syria’s recovery priorities.
After years of devastation under the Assad regime, Syria’s socio-economic recovery and reconstruction needs are immense. The EU continues to use its expertise and convening power to support Syria in reviving its economy and bringing communities back together. Today’s meeting offered concrete steps towards these objectives. The Forum, co-chaired by Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica and the Syrian Minister of Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani, brought together representatives from Member States, partner countries, the United Nations, and major financial organisations.
The meeting reaffirmed the EU’s unwavering commitment to a genuinely inclusive and peaceful transition, prioritising the needs and aspirations of all Syrians, to secure a stable, prosperous future for the country and the wider region.
Steps towards recovery
The EU is working on setting up a €15 million ‘Technical Assistance Hub’ – a flagship Team Europe initiative designed to strengthen the capacities of Syrian institutions. This will serve as an entry point for the Syrian authorities to get technical expertise from the EU and partners. Concretely, by uniting the Commission and key development agencies, the Hub will increase coordination among international partners. It is designed to strengthen Syria’s public institutions, foster sustainable socio-economic recovery, and improve public service delivery.
The EU and Syria agreed to continue exploring ways to boost private sector growth, strengthen business environment, improve access to finance – key steps to fostering sustainable investment and trade.
Commissioner Šuica announced an EU contribution of €14 million for the rehabilitation of the Al-Rastan Hospital in Homs. This important project will help restore access to quality healthcare for Syrians. Additionally, a Team Europe Initiative on Health was also launched to restore one of Syria’s key hospitals. These initiatives form part of the socio-economic recovery package of €175 million announced by Commissioner Šuica during her visit to Damascus in June 2025. The EU is also working on an additional €280 million for 2026 and 2027.
Continued political engagement
In this context, the first EU-Syria High Level Political Dialogue also takes place today. The dialogue is an opportunity to discuss best avenues for bilateral cooperation and EU support for a genuinely inclusive political transition in Syria as well as socio-economic recovery and long-term reconstruction.
Today’s events mark a strategic shift in the EU-Syria relations, moving from a crisis response to a long-term partnership built on a shared vision for stability, recovery, and prosperity.
Background
As the recent visit of President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen and President of the European Council Antonio Costa to Damascus in January highlighted that the EU sees Syria opening a path to reconciliation and recovery. The EU is ready to support it with a new framework of cooperation.
The European Union and Syrian Transitional Authorities have begun laying the groundwork for reintegration into the Euro-Mediterranean space.
Since 2011, the EU and its Member States have stood by the Syrian people, delivering over €41 billion in humanitarian, development, and stabilisation assistance: the largest contribution by any donor. This support has reached Syrians both inside the country and across the region, helping to alleviate the devastating impact of conflict and displacement.
Since 2017, the EU fronted these efforts by convening nine international donor conferences in Brussels.
After the fall of the Assad regime, the EU continues to stand by the Syrian people. In May 2025, the EU lifted all remaining economic sanctions, paving the way for renewed engagement. In 2025, the EU adopted a first package to support Syria’s socio-economic recovery of €175 million to assist the country in securing its future.
For 2026–2027, the EU has allocated a new €620 million package, blending socio-economic recovery programmes with vital humanitarian aid to deliver tangible progress where it is needed most. More recently the Commission has proposed resuming the suspended EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement to restore trade preferences and support Syria’s economic and social development.