Germany has called on the European Union to expand economic relations with Syria to help the country recover and stabilize more quickly after more than a decade of civil war, according to a position paper addressed to the European Commission.
In the text obtained by dpa on Wednesday, Berlin suggests starting talks with the European Investment Bank, which is owned by the bloc’s 27 member states, on a potential return to Syria.
The paper also proposes a review of potential trade facilitation measures for the Syrian agricultural and textile sectors.
In the long term, a more expansive partnership agreement between the EU and Syria should be considered, it said.
Millions of Syrians fled the country during the rule of long-time dictator Bashar al-Assad, who was toppled in December 2024 by an Islamist-led rebel alliance after years of bloody civil war.
Despite the regime change, many of those who came to the EU as refugees have so far hesitated to return, as Syria’s economic outlook remains dire despite the lifting of EU sanctions.
Minorities are also concerned whether they will have a place in the country under interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda fighter.
Once an insurgent leader, al-Sharaa has since renounced both al-Qaeda and Islamic State. However, doubts remain as to whether he has fully abandoned extremist ideology.
The EU removed sanctions imposed on al-Sharaa, who was previously included on the bloc’s terror list, in November.
The German position paper notes that a lack of economic prospects might jeopardize the political transition process and, consequently, the country’s overall stability.