Germany urges EU to do more to boost Syria’s economic recovery
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 to the European Commission.
In the text obtained by dpa on Wednesday, Berlin suggests starting negotiations with the European Investment Bank, which belongs to the bloc’s 27 member states, on a possible return to Syria.
The paper also provides a review of potential trade facilitation measures for Syria’s agricultural and textile sectors.
In the long term, a broader partnership agreement between the EU and Syria should be considered, the statement said.
Millions of Syrians have fled the country under the rule of longtime dictator Bashar al-Assad, who was overthrown in December 2024 by an Islamist-led rebel alliance after years of bloody civil war.
Despite the regime change, many of those who arrived in the EU as refugees have so far been reluctant to return, as Syria’s economic prospects remain dire despite the lifting of EU sanctions.
Minorities also worry about whether they will have a place in the country under the leadership of interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa, a former al-Qaeda fighter.
Once an insurgent leader, al-Sharaa has since renounced al-Qaeda and the Islamic State. However, doubts remain over whether he has completely abandoned extremist ideology.
The EU in November lifted sanctions on al-Sharaa, which was previously on the bloc’s terrorist list.
The German position paper notes that a lack of economic prospects could jeopardize the political transition process and, therefore, the country’s overall stability.
The EU, the document concludes, must therefore pay particular attention to policies aimed at supporting economic recovery and post-war reconstruction, the cost of which is estimated at at least $216 billion, according to a World Bank calculation cited in the text.
Per capita income in Syria has recently fallen well below the international threshold for low-income countries, according to World Bank analysis.
One in four Syrians live in extreme poverty, while two-thirds of the population live below the poverty line in lower-middle-income countries.
Diplomats told DPA that other EU member states, including France, Italy, Sweden and Austria, also supported the stance.
