The European Union Announces €175 Million Package to Support Syria’s Recovery

The European Union Announces €175 Million Package to Support Syria’s Recovery

Following the recent lifting of EU economic sanctions on Syria, the European Commission has proposed a new funding package of €175 million to support the country’s social and economic recovery. This marks a significant step in the EU’s engagement with Syria’s transitional authorities and reaffirms its commitment to a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led transition.

The funding will focus on several key areas:

• Strengthening public institutions with the support of both local and international experts, including those from the Syrian diaspora.
• Supporting community-driven initiatives in critical sectors such as energy, education, health, livelihoods, and agriculture.
• Promoting job creation and revitalizing local economies in both urban and rural areas.
• Expanding access to finance for vulnerable populations.
• Advancing transitional justice, accountability, and human rights, including efforts to combat impunity and address the issue of missing persons.

In addition to the financial support, the EU is working to integrate Syria into broader regional initiatives, including the Erasmus+ programme and the upcoming New Pact for the Mediterranean. These steps aim to foster deeper cooperation and long-term engagement between Syria and the EU’s southern neighbourhood.

The announcement comes during the visit of EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, who is currently in Syria to reaffirm the EU’s continued support for the country’s transition. Her visit, the first by an EU Commissioner since the formation of the transitional government, underscores the EU’s intention to build a more stable and cooperative relationship with Syria.

This new package builds upon the EU’s long-standing support for the Syrian people. Since 2011, the EU and its Member States have mobilised nearly €37 billion in humanitarian and resilience funding, including support for Syrian refugees and their host communities across the region. At the 9th International Brussels Conference on Syria, the EU pledged an additional €2.5 billion to support recovery and humanitarian efforts both inside Syria and in neighbouring countries such as Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Türkiye.

Source: European Commission