EU Pushes to Revive Syria Ties, Eyes Migrant Returns

The European Union will push for a revival of ties with Syria on Monday, with EU Foreign Ministers meeting Syrian top diplomat Asaad al-Shaibani in Brussels to kick off a high-level political dialogue. The move comes 18 months after the ouster of strongman Bashar al-Assad and aims to back reconstruction of the country devastated by more than a decade of civil war.

The EU has already pledged 620 million euros in aid for the 2026-2027 period, and some 13 million Syrians - nearly half the population - depend on food assistance. The bloc's interest in Syria's stability is also driven by the large number of Syrian asylum-seekers in Europe, with many EU countries pushing for migrants to eventually return home.

The EU launched a new chapter with Syria after Mr. Assad was swept from power in December 2024, and European Commission chief Ursula von der Leyen has promised to support Syria's recovery. The commission has proposed that EU states fully reactivate the bloc's cooperation agreement with Syria, which is expected to be approved on Monday.

The EU wants to facilitate access to financing for Syrians and support farmers, and is also on track to sign a deal to rehabilitate a major hospital in the western Homs region. On the sensitive matter of Syrian migrant returns, there is no question of forcing Syrians to leave, but the EU wants to establish a straight and regular dialogue on returns with Damascus.

The EU will resume talks with Syria on Monday, with the focus on working on stability and Syria's economic recovery. The commission wants to create conditions for people to be able to go home in sustainable conditions, and the matter of returns will feature in the talks.