On Wednesday 4 June in Damascus, European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica announced that she had proposed a strategic partnership between the EU and Syria to the new Syrian leadership.
“I [have offered] to start bilateral negotiations on a strategic partnership agreement between the European Union and Syria. (...) These agreements usually comprise energy, trade, digital [technology and] people-to-people contacts. So, we will start talking with Syria”, she announced alongside Minister of Foreign Affairs Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani.
The commissioner also said that the EU was working to reintegrate Syria into the neighbourhood policy and European programmes, starting with Erasmus+.
Announcing new financial support of €175 million (see EUROPE 13653/24), Ms Šuica also promised that “once conditions are met, once Syria recovers a little bit”, she would work to attract and encourage European companies to invest in the country and create new jobs for young people.
Mr al-Shaibani said that his country was open “to more investment, cooperation and transitional justice”. “The period of containment is over, Syria wants to become a powerful economic partner, not be subject to pity and dependent on aid. Syrians have suffered a great deal and it is high time they had a prosperous future”, he stressed. He added that his country had considerable potential, particularly in terms of human capital.
The minister also called on the EU to support Syria in its efforts to remedy the security situation, as it faces attacks, notably from former supporters of El Assad, but also from Israel. “The recent Israeli attacks are not just a violation of international law but systematic provocations to push Syria to react in a way Syria does not want to react. These acts are pushing to spread havoc in the country”, he denounced. Mr al-Shaibani called on the international community to support compliance with the 1974 agreement.
Finally, Ms Šuica said it was necessary “to guarantee the voluntary, safe, dignified and sustainable return of refugees living in neighbouring countries and in Europe”, while pointing out that Syria is not yet considered a “safe third country”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)