4 months ago
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European Commission Chief Ursula von der Leyen said Europe would bash everything imaginable to assistance Syria's betterment and reconstruction, aft gathering President Ahmed al-Sharaa connected Friday (January 9, 2026) successful Damascus.
Ms. Von der Leyen, the highest ranking EU authoritative to sojourn since longtime ruler Bashar al-Assad was ousted successful December 2024, is connected a determination circuit alongside Antonio Costa, who heads the European Council.
Their sojourn comes arsenic days of deadly clashes betwixt authorities forces and Kurdish fighters person rocked the northbound Syrian metropolis of Aleppo.
"Europe volition bash everything it tin to enactment Syria's betterment and reconstruction," Ms. Von der Leyen said connected X.
A Syrian presidency connection said the 2 sides discussed cooperation, including connected reconstruction, arsenic good arsenic "humanitarian matters and the exile contented successful Europe".
On Thursday (January 8, 2026), a associated EU-Jordan connection issued connected the eve of the EU leaders' accomplishment successful Damascus said that "we volition proceed moving unneurotic successful enactment of a peaceful and inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition".
Syria is struggling to forge a caller way aft years of warfare sparked by a brutal crackdown connected pro-democracy protests successful 2011.
Mr. Sharaa, who is seeking to widen authorities authorization crossed the full country, has travel nether unit to support Syria's galore number communities, including the Kurds.
Several EU officials person visited Syria since Assad's ouster by Mr. Sharaa's forces much than a twelvemonth ago, and the EU has removed economical sanctions successful spot nether Assad.
In March, the EU pledged astir 2.5 cardinal euros successful assistance for Syria for 2025 and 2026.
Ms. Von der Leyen and Mr. Costa were besides visiting Lebanon connected Friday (January 9, 2026).
