EU Approves Restoration of Full Trade Relations with Syria

In what is being hailed as a "historic pivot," the European Council in Brussels announced on Monday, May 11, 2026, its formal decision to terminate the partial suspension of the 1977 Cooperation Agreement with Syria. This landmark move effectively reinstates full trade relations and removes long-standing restrictions on key Syrian exports, including crude oil, petroleum products, gold, and precious metals. Consequently, Syrian industrial and agricultural products will once again enjoy preferential, duty-free access to European markets under the original terms of the treaty.

Speaking from Brussels, the EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean, Dubravka Šuica, emphasized that this decision serves as a powerful political endorsement of Syria's transitional phase and its new leadership. Commissioner Šuica unveiled a comprehensive financial package totaling €355 million, designated for the "EU-Syria Partnership Coordination Forum." These funds are earmarked for early recovery projects, including the rehabilitation of critical infrastructure, water networks, and healthcare facilities. Beyond immediate aid, the EU aims to stimulate direct foreign investment to foster a stable economic environment, supporting the sustainable and dignified return of displaced populations while fully reintegrating Syria into the global financial and logistics systems.

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