The European Union (EU) once again placed Syria at the center of the international political and financial agenda by announcing a new financial support package worth 620 million euros for 2026 and 2027, aimed at humanitarian aid and the socioeconomic recovery of a country devastated by more than a decade of war. The announcement was made in Damascus, in a joint visit that also marks a change of tone in the relationship between Brussels and the new Syrian authorities.
According to the European Union, the funding now announced comes as a complement to commitments already made in recent years and aims to respond to the most urgent needs of the Syrian population, in a context marked by the destruction of infrastructure, economic collapse and a prolonged humanitarian crisis.
According to the Observer, which followed the announcement, the funds will be divided between direct support for vulnerable populations and instruments to support the gradual reconstruction of the country.
A conflict that shaped an entire generation
The war in Syria began in 2011, following protests against the authoritarian regime of Bashar al-Assad, which quickly turned into a large-scale armed conflict. For more than a decade, the country was plunged into a civil war with multiple internal and external actors, causing millions of people to be displaced, hundreds of thousands of deaths and the systematic destruction of entire cities.
According to the same publication, since the beginning of the conflict, the European Union’s financial support for Syria and neighboring countries has already exceeded 38 billion euros, making Brussels the largest individual international donor in the Syrian context.
At the ninth international donor conference alone, held last year, 5.8 billion euros were mobilized, of which 2.5 billion were paid for by the European Union for 2025 and 2026.
The new package was announced during an official visit to Damascus by the President of the European Council, António Costa, and the President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen. Both met with the current Syrian head of state, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a meeting that culminated in the signing of a new political partnership between Brussels and Damascus.
According to the Observer, this partnership foresees the reinforcement of economic and commercial cooperation, as well as the gradual integration of Syria in initiatives linked to the Pact for the Mediterranean.
The objective is to create minimum conditions for economic recovery, stimulate private investment and support the reconstruction of essential sectors such as energy, transport and basic services.
Slow but strategic reconstruction
The European Commission emphasizes that the funding now announced is not limited to the immediate humanitarian response. A significant part of the package will be channeled into socioeconomic recovery programs, institutional support and job creation, in an effort to stabilize the country in the medium term.
According to the publication, Brussels recognizes that the reconstruction of Syria will be a long process and conditioned by political and security factors, but considers it essential to avoid an economic vacuum that could worsen regional instability.
The announcement in Damascus is part of a broader diplomatic tour of the Middle East, which also includes visits to Jordan and Lebanon, countries heavily affected by the Syrian conflict due to the reception of millions of refugees.
For the European Union, financial support for Syria is also a central piece of the strategy to contain migratory flows and promote stability on the bloc’s external borders.
A commitment under international scrutiny
Despite the financial reinforcement, the European Union maintains reservations regarding internal political developments in Syria and emphasizes that any deepening of cooperation will depend on respect for basic principles, such as human rights and the rule of law. Even so, as explained by , Brussels seems to be opting for a pragmatic approach, seeking to balance political demands with humanitarian urgency.
With this new package of 620 million euros, the European Union signals that it does not intend to abandon the Syrian dossier anytime soon. Financial aid appears as an instrument of pressure, but also as an attempt to prevent an exhausted country from remaining trapped in a cycle of economic collapse and chronic instability.
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