European Council Ends Partial Suspension, Restoring Full EU-Syria Trade Relations

The European Council on Monday adopted a decision to end the partial suspension of the cooperation agreement between the European Union and Syria, restoring full application of the accord that had been partially suspended in 2011 and then in 2012.

The cooperation agreement, concluded in 1977, forms the framework for EU-Syria economic and commercial relations, and the decision was described as “an important step toward strengthening bilateral relations between the EU and Syria.”

Al-Bawaba ash-Shuruq

The move comes after Syria’s majority of Western sanctions were lifted at the end of last year, as Syria sought further integration into the international community under President Ahmad al-Sharā’.

Aram Business said the European Commission had floated resuming the cooperation agreement signed in 1978 between the European Economic Community and Syria, which had regulated trade relations before its operation was rolled back after Western sanctions on Damascus since 2011.

France 24 similarly said the European Council adopted the decision to end the partial suspension of the cooperation agreement between the European Economic Commission and Syria, thereby restoring full trade relations with Syria.

Al-Jazeera Net said the European Union launched a high-level political dialogue with Syria, reinstated the cooperation agreement, and lifted sanctions on the Syrian interior and defense ministers أنس خطاب and مرهف أبو قصرة.

The same report said EU foreign policy chief Kaya Kalas described the step as “a signal of normalizing relations with Syria” after EU foreign ministers met in Brussels on Monday with their Syrian counterpart أسعد الشيباني.

Al-Jazeera Net

Al Arabiya Business quoted EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica saying the European Union pledged 50 million euros to support and strengthen Syrian institutions alongside the full reapplication of the cooperation agreement.

It also said Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaybani told reporters that his country is entering a “new phase” of partnership with the European Union, and he stressed work to strengthen the economy, encourage investment, and improve services.

France 24 added that Damascus, with most Western sanctions lifted at the end of last year, seeks to deepen integration under President Ahmad al-Shara, who led an alliance of Islamic opposition factions that toppled Bashar al-Assad in late 2024.

Aram Business said restoring full trade relations would lift restrictions on importing some Syrian goods, including oil and petroleum products, as well as gold, precious metals, and diamonds.

It also cited European Commission and Eurostat figures that, before the outbreak of the Syrian war, the European Union was Syria’s largest trading partner, with trade between the two sides totaling about €7.8 billion in 2010.

Al Arabiya Business reported that Šuica said the EU is working on implementing a support package worth 175 million euros, in addition to another package worth 180 million euros during the current year to support reconstruction and recovery in Syria.

The same report said the funding aims to stimulate investments in the public and private sectors and encourage European banks to support rebuilding projects, while also facilitating voluntary and safe returns for Syrian refugees.

Al Arabiya Business further quoted Qutaiba Qadish, Director of International Cooperation at the Syrian Ministry of Foreign Affairs, saying the government has presented a plan for economic recovery and that “the remnants of war and mines still pose a challenge to development and reconstruction efforts.”