European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani hold a news conference in Brussels on May 11, 2026.
The European Union has moved to restore full trade relations with Syria, ending years of partial suspension and signalling a major shift in its post-war engagement with the country.
The decision by the European Council marks a significant step towards rebuilding economic and political ties after nearly 14 years of conflict. Officials say the move is intended to support Syria’s recovery and send a clear signal of renewed cooperation.
EU foreign ministers also held talks in Brussels with Syria’s top diplomat, Asaad al-Shaibani, opening a new phase of political dialogue 18 months after the fall of former leader Bashar al-Assad. The engagement follows the emergence of interim leadership under President Ahmed al-Sharaa.
The cooperation agreement, originally signed to ease trade and development ties, was partially suspended in 2011 when the Syrian civil war began. It previously removed tariffs on most Syrian industrial exports to Europe, but trade collapsed during the conflict.
At its peak in 2010, EU-Syria trade exceeded 7 billion euros. By 2023, it had fallen sharply, with Syrian exports to the EU dropping to just over 100 million euros.
European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen recently said the EU is ready to “do everything it can” to support Syria’s reconstruction, following talks with Syrian leadership in Damascus. The Commission had earlier recommended restoring the full agreement to boost economic recovery.
The decision has also revived debate over migration policy, particularly in Germany, home to more than one million Syrian refugees. German Chancellor Friedrich Merz has faced criticism after suggesting that a large proportion of Syrian refugees could return home within a few years, though he later clarified the remark.
While the EU frames the move as a pathway to stability and reconstruction, analysts say challenges remain, including political reconciliation, security concerns, and the future of millions of displaced Syrians.
