A leaked document revealed that the European Union is moving towards strengthening its relations with Syria, by resuming official political contacts and creating conditions to establish stronger economic and security ties. This step comes in the context of a broader shift in European policy towards Damascus, after years of stagnation.
According to Reuters, the document prepared by the European Union’s diplomatic department and sent to member states indicates that the Union will fully resume work on a cooperation agreement signed with Syria in 1978. The Union will also begin a high-level political dialogue, a term it uses to refer to official and organized talks, with the transitional authorities in Syria on May 11.
In a notable amendment to the policies followed, the document also stated that the European Union said that it would “reshape and modify” the sanctions regime to maintain means of pressure, at a time when it communicates with the Syrian leadership and targets those who negatively influence the transitional process.
With the lifting of most Western sanctions at the end of last year, Syria seeks greater integration into the international community under the leadership of President Ahmed al-Sharaa in the transitional phase.
Migrant file: The document outlines plans to strengthen the economic partnership, including a framework for trade and investment, stimulating private sector financing, and supporting reforms to improve the business environment in Syria through a new technical assistance center. She also stated that the European Union would work with the authorities to facilitate the “safe, voluntary and dignified return” of refugees and displaced persons.
Europe hosts more than a million Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, almost half of whom are in Germany. Their return has topped the agenda of most discussions between European capitals and Damascus since the ouster of Assad.
The document highlights ambitions to integrate Syria into regional connectivity projects, including the economic corridor between India, the Middle East and Europe, making the country a hub for transport, energy and digital links.
Syria began to turn into a vital transit point, especially in light of the energy crisis resulting from the closure of the Strait of Hormuz during the Iran war. The first tanker carrying Iraqi oil transported by land sailed from the Syrian port of Baniyas on Thursday.
Turkish Transport Minister Abdulkadir Oraloglu told Bloomberg on Wednesday that his country, Syria and Jordan agreed to modernize railway networks to create a corridor linking southern Europe to the Gulf.
Supporting the integration of Syrian Kurds: With regard to security, the document stated that the European Union could support the training of the Syrian police and institutional capacity building in the Ministry of Interior, along with cooperation in combating terrorism and efforts to confront drug trafficking and organized crime.
The document also indicated the European Union’s support for the implementation of an agreement reached in January between Damascus and the Kurdish-led authorities in the northeast of the country, which includes integrating local institutions into the state structure and increasing the rights of Syrian Kurds within the framework of a broader political transition.
In a major step in implementing that agreement, in March, Syria appointed the commander of the Kurdish People’s Protection Units as Deputy Minister of Defense for the eastern regions, as American forces handed over the last military base they occupied to the Syrian army this week. (Erm News)
