EU seeks to deepen ties with Syria
Kaja Kallas visits Damascus as Brussels works on political dialogue, reconstruction and a new association agreement.
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EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas is visiting Syria on Tuesday for talks on the political transition, regional security and economic reconstruction. Brussels wants to deepen the relationship, but a new cooperation agreement has yet to be concluded.
Kallas is travelling to Damascus for talks with President Ahmad al-Sharaa and other Syrian officials. The European Commission lists the visit in its official diary. It is a visible continuation of the cautious rapprochement between the European Union and Syria’s transitional authorities.
The EU once again has an ambassador in Syria this year. According to the European External Action Service, Ambassador Michael Ohnmacht presented his credentials to al-Sharaa at the beginning of September. This ended a fourteen-year absence of an EU ambassador in Damascus.
Brussels is now trying to shift the relationship from crisis management towards a longer-term partnership. In May, the EU and Syria held their first high-level political dialogue. They discussed stability, reconstruction, development cooperation and the conditions for a new association agreement.
The European engagement also has an economic dimension. The EU has previously scaled back parts of its sanctions regime against Syria and says it wants to use cooperation with the Syrian authorities to support reconstruction and social stability. This does not mean that all political and legal objections have disappeared.
The transition in Syria remains fragile. In its own documents, the EU stresses that the transition must be inclusive and peaceful and that Syria must cooperate with international institutions. Security, human rights and the position of different population groups also remain decisive in determining the extent to which Brussels can further normalise ties.
Kallas’s visit is therefore primarily a diplomatic signal, not an endpoint. The talks could pave the way for further cooperation, but concrete agreements on trade, reconstruction and institutional reforms still need to be worked out. It is also not yet clear when negotiations on an association agreement will formally begin.
One story, several perspectives
What is established
- Kallas is visiting Damascus for talks with the Syrian transitional authorities.
- The EU has upgraded its diplomatic representation in Syria.
- Brussels and Damascus are working towards further political and economic cooperation.
- An association agreement and its precise conditions have not yet been established.
Left
Arguments The EU must maintain contact with Syria in order to influence reconstruction, human rights and an inclusive transition. Isolation would mainly leave the population to other power blocs.
Values International solidarity, human rights and the protection of civilians.
Consequences Greater engagement could increase European influence, but normalisation without firm conditions could reward those in power.
Centre
Arguments A diplomatic presence is necessary, but cooperation should proceed step by step and remain tied to verifiable conditions.
Values Institutional caution, stability and verifiable agreements.
Consequences A gradual approach limits risks, but can be slow and cause disappointment on the Syrian side.
Right
Arguments The EU must avoid providing money and political recognition without assurances about security, migration management and the protection of European interests.
Values National security, control and the responsible use of public funds.
Consequences Stricter conditions limit European risks, but could give the EU less influence over Syria’s transition.
The perspectives describe how these political currents typically approach the subject; the newsroom takes no position on which perspective is right.
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The key facts are based on official European sources. The text clearly distinguishes between announced rapprochement and agreements that have not yet been made.
- confirmed Kaja Kallas is visiting Syria on 29 September 2026. — The European Commission’s diary lists the visit to Syria on 29 September. source
- confirmed The EU once again has an ambassador in Syria after fourteen years. — The EU delegation in Syria describes the presentation of Michael Ohnmacht’s credentials. source
- confirmed The EU and Syria held their first high-level political dialogue in May 2026. — The European Commission describes the meeting of 8 May 2026. source
- confirmed A new association agreement has not yet been concluded. — The European source refers to the pursuit of a new framework, not a completed agreement. source
Editor's note
The visit, the renewed EU representation and the political dialogue were confirmed by European sources. The content and outcome of Tuesday’s talks were not yet fully known at the time of publication.Sources
- High Representative Vice-President Kallas visits Syria — Europese Commissie
- After a fourteen-year hiatus, the EU has an Ambassador in Syria — EEAS
- EU and Syria meet to take their relations and cooperation forward — Europese Commissie
More on this in Dutch media
- NU.nl — „syrië kaja kallas”
- De Telegraaf — „syrië kaja kallas”
- AD — „syrië kaja kallas”