EU, Syria Convene Meeting in Brussels

(MENAFN) The European Union and Syria convened their first high-level political dialogue in Brussels on Monday, opening a landmark channel of engagement focused on rebuilding bilateral ties, expanding cooperation and confronting the regional security challenges that continue to destabilise the area.

The talks were jointly chaired by EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas and Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani, with European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica and European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management Hadja Lahbib also seated at the table.

A joint statement released following the session indicated that discussions canvassed the current state of EU-Syria relations and identified concrete avenues to deepen engagement against a backdrop of persistent regional tensions and evolving security threats.

The dialogue further examined the progress of Syria's transitional authorities in advancing stabilisation, socioeconomic recovery and an inclusive political transition. The EU used the occasion to reaffirm its commitment to sustaining humanitarian support and backing reconstruction efforts across the war-scarred country.

"Discussions highlighted the importance of upholding the rights of all Syrian citizens and coordinating efforts to promote stability, humanitarian assistance and socioeconomic development," the statement said.

The high-level meeting was preceded by a significant policy shift earlier the same day, when EU foreign ministers formally voted to lift the partial suspension of the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement — a freeze that had been in place since 2011 — in what officials characterised as a decisive step toward normalising relations between Brussels and Damascus.

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