Main
News
Politics
The EU to resume relations with Syria – Reuters

The EU to resume relations with Syria – Reuters

17 April 2026, 18:46

The EU to resume relations with Syria – Reuters — EU Syria

The European Union intends to strengthen its cooperation with Syria by resuming official political dialogue and opening up opportunities for closer economic and security ties.

This is stated in a document prepared by the EU’s diplomatic service, which was seen by Reuters.

The document states that the EU will fully reinstate the 1978 cooperation agreement with Syria and launch a structured high-level political dialogue with the country’s transitional authorities on 11 May. It also plans to ‘reformulate and adapt’ its sanctions policy to retain leverage, whilst engaging with the Syrian leadership and deterring those who might obstruct the political transition.

The document provides for enhanced economic cooperation, including the establishment of a framework for trade and investment, the mobilisation of private capital, and support for reforms to improve the business climate.

Separately, the EU plans to cooperate with the Syrian authorities to ensure the “safe, voluntary and dignified return” of refugees and displaced persons. There are currently over 1 million Syrian refugees in Europe, roughly half of them in Germany.

The EU is also considering integrating Syria into regional infrastructure projects, notably the India–Middle East–Europe economic corridor, which is set to make the country a key transport, energy and digital hub. Against the backdrop of the energy crisis caused by the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the war with Iran, Syria is already becoming a key transit hub. In particular, the first tanker carrying Iraqi oil transported overland has set sail from the Syrian port of Baniyas.

In the security sphere, the EU may support the training of the Syrian police, the development of the Ministry of the Interior’s institutions, as well as cooperation in the fight against terrorism, drug trafficking and organised crime.

The document also confirms the EU’s support for the integration of Kurdish regions in north-eastern Syria into the national system, with the expansion of Syrian Kurds’ rights as part of the political transition.

As a reminder, in January 2026 it was reported that Russian troops were withdrawing from Syria.

Politics

Zelenskyy has called on NATO to step up its support for air defence and speed up the delivery of Patriot systems

During a meeting of the Ukraine–NATO Council in Kyiv, President Volodymyr Zelenskyy emphasised the need to strengthen Ukraine’s air defences and increase supplies of Patriot interceptor missiles. He also thanked partners for their support of Ukraine and for attending the Alliance meeting in the Ukrainian capital.