New Momentum for Syria at the 9th Brussels Conference President Ursula von der Leyen addressed the evolving situation in Syria during her speech at the 9th Brussels Conference on Syria, emphasizing a historic shift from external support to working directly with Syrian authorities and civil society. For the first time, Minister al-Shaibani of Syria joined the conference, symbolizing a new phase of cooperation. Von der Leyen highlighted ongoing challenges, including violence and fragile security, but expressed cautious optimism based on recent agreements and political steps toward inclusion and justice.
Concrete Financial and Strategic Commitments The President announced that the EU plans to increase its financial commitment to about EUR 2.5 billion for 2025 and 2026, focusing on humanitarian aid and supporting displaced populations both inside Syria and in host countries. She also underscored the suspension of sanctions on key economic sectors such as energy, transport, and related financial operations to stimulate reconstruction and economic recovery. This implies a policy tilt towards easing EU constraints tied to political progress, contingent on the emergence of an inclusive, non-sectarian government.
Policy Directions and Stakeholder Impact Von der Leyen’s proposals indicate a shift toward greater EU engagement in Syria’s political and economic reconstruction, balancing humanitarian concerns with long-term development goals. The suspension of sanctions and increased funding aim to incentivize cooperation with Syrian authorities, which may enhance the influence of EU regulatory frameworks but also raises questions about the trade-offs involving national sovereignty and compliance with EU standards.
Key affected stakeholders include Syrian civilians, benefiting from enhanced humanitarian support and reconstruction efforts; Syrian civil society, which is gaining increased representation and a voice through planned dialogues in Damascus; EU taxpayers, who will provide increased budgetary resources; and Syrian economic actors in sectors benefiting from the lifted sanctions, facing new investments but also alignment pressures with evolving political conditions. The concrete timeline and budget marks a measurable policy commitment, contrasting with more declarative calls for action seen in previous years. It remains to be seen how the balance between political progress and human rights concerns will be managed going forward.
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