European sources:  Political dialogue between the EU and Syria in May

Cypriot Deputy Minister of European Affairs Marlena Rauna's invitation  to President Ahmed al-Sharaa to participate in the meetings of the Council of the European Union scheduled to be held in Cyprus on 23 and 24 of this month, and the recent visit  of European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and European Council President Antonio Costa to Damascus, embody a radical European shift in the relationship with Damascus that paves the way for the launch of a "high-level political dialogue" expected next May, according to "European sources."

The  reference document, prepared by the European Union's diplomatic department  and distributed to member states over the past few days, confirmed that the European Union is moving to rebuild its relations with Syria by reviving the 1978 cooperation agreement and resuming official political contacts, in a move that reflects a strategic shift in Brussels' policy after years of estrangement, and paves the way for launching broader cooperation in the fields of economy, security and migration.

In Damascus  , Ursula von and Costa  discussed with President Al-Sharia the issue of rebuilding relations between Brussels and Damascus.

                                 High-level political dialogue

According to proposals submitted by the European Commission and documents seen by Reuters, the bloc intends to fully resume the cooperation agreement and start a "high-level political dialogue" with Syria on May 11, as part of an orderly process of re-engagement with Damascus.

The deal was partially suspended in 2011 due to human rights abuses under the former regime, but the fall of his regime in December 2024 opened the door to a comprehensive Western reassessment of Syria, which was accompanied by the lifting of most European economic sanctions in May 2025.

                            Regulation of Economic and Trade Relations

According to the sources, the revival of the agreement between Brussels and Damascus aims to regulate economic and trade relations, including granting Syrian industrial products preferential access to European markets and removing some trade restrictions, at a time when President Al-Sharia seeks to reintegrate the country into the global economy after a war that lasted more than 14 years.

It is noteworthy that before 2011, the European Union was  one of Syria's most prominent trading partners, with the volume of trade exchange exceeding $8 billion in 2010, before declining to only about $430 million by 2024.

A shift in European policy

The European documents quoted  by Reuters indicate that the EU is not only restoring diplomatic relations, but is also working to launch a new framework for economic cooperation that includes encouraging private investments, supporting the reform of the business environment, establishing a technical assistance center inside Syria, in addition to a financial support package estimated at about $730 million for the period 2026-2027.

According to European documents and sources, Brussels is also seeking to strengthen security cooperation, including support for Syrian police training, institutional capacity-building, and coordination in the fight against terrorism, organized crime and drug trafficking.

Refugees at the top of the list

The refugee file is central to the European approach, as the EU is working with the Syrian authorities to facilitate the "safe, voluntary and dignified return" of displaced people, at a time when European countries are hosting more than a million Syrian refugees, about half of them in Germany.

This file has become a key item in discussions between European capitals and Damascus since the political change in Syria, with Syrian officials stressing that the large-scale return of refugees remains linked to the progress of reconstruction efforts and improved living conditions.

Syria as a regional hub for energy and transport

In a broader context, the documents and information point to a European trend to integrate Syria into regional connectivity projects, including the India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor, thereby strengthening its position as a transport, energy, and communications hub.

These plans are gaining additional importance in light of the repercussions of the war between the United States, Israel, and Iran, which led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and exacerbated the energy crisis, prompting the search for alternative routes for the transfer of resources, as Syria emerged as a strategic transit point, as the first Iraqi oil tanker transported by land recently left the port of Baniyas, while Turkey, Syria, and Jordan announced their agreement to modernize railway networks to establish a corridor linking southern Europe to the Gulf.

President Sharaa at a regional-European meeting

 Last  month, President Ahmed al-Sharaa participated in a video meeting on Monday with a number of leaders of Middle Eastern countries, at the invitation of the presidency of the European Council and the European Commission, with the aim of discussing military developments in the region, ways to de-escalate and support the diplomatic track.

 President Al-Sharaa explained that Syria, which is located at a geographical juncture between three burning fronts, is facing direct and serious repercussions as a result of these developments, stressing that its position has been and continues to be firm in condemning all forms of aggression against Arab sovereignty.