Syria

Renewed relations with Syria

Following the fall of the Al-Assad criminal regime in 2024 and other political developments in Syria, the EU has taken important steps to strengthen its bilateral relations with Syria, including:

reinstating the full application of the EU-Syria cooperation agreement (2026)
suspending all economic sanctions, with the exception of those based on security grounds (2025)

Council conclusions on Syria

The EU’s policy towards Syria is guided by the Council conclusions of 23 June 2025, in which the EU reaffirmed its commitment to stand with the Syrian people and to support a peaceful and inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition to help build a better future for all Syrians.

The EU is ready to work with the transitional government in regional and multilateral fora, and urges all external actors without exception to fully respect Syria’s unity, independence, sovereignty and territorial integrity.

The EU condemns any unilateral foreign military actions and presence, and any attempt to undermine Syria’s stability and prospects for a peaceful transition, including through foreign information manipulation and interference.

Syria: Council approves conclusions (press release, 23 June 2025)

Reinstatement of the full application of the EU-Syria cooperation agreement

In May 2026, the Council decided to end the partial suspension of the EU-Syria cooperation agreement, introduced in 2011 in response to the repression of the Syrian population and human rights violations perpetrated by the Al-Assad regime.

The cooperation agreement, concluded in 1977, provides the framework for economic and trade relations between the EU and Syria. Among other things, it removes quantitative restrictions on EU imports of certain Syrian products, including oil, petroleum products, gold, precious metals and diamonds.

Syria: Council restores full application of EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement (press release, 11 May 2026)

Suspension of economic sanctions against Syria

In May 2025, the EU lifted all economic sanctions concerning Syria, with the exception of those based on security grounds, including weapons and technologies that could be used for internal repression.

The EU has maintained sanctions related to the Al-Assad regime, in line with its call for accountability for perpetrators of crimes, and continues to monitor developments on the ground.

Syria: EU adopts legal acts to lift economic sanctions on Syria, enacting recent political agreement (press release, 28 May 2025)

EU-Syria high-level political dialogue

The first high-level political dialogue between the EU and Syria was held in May 2026. The dialogue was an opportunity to make progress towards normalising relations between the EU and Syria and to discuss the EU’s support to the Syrian transitional authorities’ efforts towards Syria’s stabilisation, socio-economic recovery and inclusive political transition.

First EU-Syria High-level Political Dialogue, 11 May 2026

EU assistance to Syrians

Over 15 years of conflict in Syria has inflicted immense suffering on civilians and has created one of the world's worst humanitarian crises.

Continued displacement, the collapse of essential services, and extensive destruction of infrastructure have left 15.6 million people in urgent need of humanitarian assistance in 2026. This means that 6 out of 10 Syrians are in need of humanitarian assistance

5.5 million people remain internally displaced and over 3.6 million Syrian refugees are registered in neighbouring countries (Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan).

Over 13.3 million people are food insecure. Nearly 2.7 million children are out of school.

The EU and its member states are the leading donors of international aid to those affected by the conflict in Syria. Since the start of the crisis in 2011, the EU and its member states have mobilised more than €41 billion to support Syrians, both within the country and across the region.

This funding covers life-saving humanitarian aid, basic services, such as healthcare and education, and long-term socio-economic recovery and reconstruction.

The assistance is channelled through humanitarian partners, such as NGOs, UN agencies and the International Red Cross and Red Crescent Movement, which provide the most vulnerable people with healthcare, food assistance, water, sanitation and hygiene services, protection, shelter and education.

Humanitarian aid to Syria (European Commission)

Sanctions against the Al-Assad regime

The European Union suspended all its bilateral cooperation with the government of Syria and its supporters in May 2011, following the escalation of violence and the unacceptable human rights situation.

Between 2011 and 2024, the EU adopted sanctions against the Al-Assad regime. However, following the fall of the regime, on 24 February 2025 the EU suspended a number of sanctions, including in the field of energy, transport and financial transactions, in order to facilitate engagement with the country, its people and businesses.

On 28 May 2025, the EU lifted all economic sanctions on Syria, with the exception of those based on security grounds.

Remaining economic sanctions include:

an arms embargo
export restrictions on dual-use goods, equipment and technology for internal repression and software for interception and surveillance
a ban on trade in goods that form part of Syria's cultural heritage

At the same time, the EU decided to maintain sanctions against individuals and entities related to the Al-Assad regime and responsible for the violent repression of the Syrian people and for human rights abuses.

Listed individuals and entities are subject to an asset freeze, and no funds or economic resources can be made available to them. Individuals are also subject to a travel ban.

These sanctions were last extended until 1 June 2027.

In addition, between 2023 and 2025 the EU sanctioned individuals and entities responsible for human rights abuses under the global human rights sanctions regime.

The EU legislation on sanctions against the Al-Assad regime includes humanitarian exceptions to ensure the continued provision of humanitarian assistance to any part of the country.

Combatting terrorism

The presence of Da'esh and other terrorist groups in Syria poses a serious threat to the country, the broader region and the international community as a whole. In March 2015, the EU therefore adopted the 'EU regional strategy dedicated to Syria as well as the ISIL/Da’esh threat'.

Following the territorial defeat of Da’esh in 2019, the EU has continued to support international efforts to prevent Da’esh from resurging. In December 2024, the Council reiterated its unwavering commitment to combating terrorism in Syria and to the work of the Global Coalition Against Da’esh.