ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The European Union on Monday pledged nearly €2.5 billion (around $2.7 billion) in aid for Syria, as global powers and regional countries convened in Brussels to drive donations and address the country’s humanitarian crisis caused by years of war. “The European Union is increasing its pledge for Syrians in the country and in the region to almost 2.5 billion euros for 2025 and 2026," European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen said during the conference, stressing that Syrians “need greater support, whether they are still abroad, or decide to go home.” According to von der Leyen, the United Nations estimates that up to 1.5 million Syrian refugees may return to their country this year, along with an additional 2 million displaced persons inside Syria expected to go back to their hometowns. “Today we are working with the host countries and UN agencies to support them along the way,” said the European Commission president. Germany pledged around $327 million to UN agencies and select organizations to assist Syria, while the UK pledged $200 million to provide food, healthcare, and education. Of note, the British government had also lifted sanctions on two dozen Syrian entities, including the country’s central bank, earlier in March. The donations come after the EU Council had in late February suspended measures targeting the energy and transport sectors in Syria and vowed to release funds and economic resources to the Syrian Central Bank. It also said it would introduce exemptions to the prohibition on banking relations between Syria’s financial institutions and those in EU member states. While noting that the measures aim “to facilitate engagement with Syria” in key areas and financial and banking transactions essential for “humanitarian and reconstruction purposes,” the EU Council said in late February that it would “closely monitor the situation” in Syria and “assess whether further economic sanctions could be suspended.” It warned that sanctions would be reinstated if the situation does not progress in the “right direction.” Notably, Monday’s conference in Brussels marked the ninth of its kind but was the first to include a representative of the Syrian state, Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shaibani. Following a swift offensive, a coalition of opposition groups led by Hay’at Tahrir al-Sham - headed by Ahmed al-Sharaa - in December toppled the Bashar al-Assad regime. In late January Sharaa was appointed as Syria’s interim president. and has since vowed to hold “free and fair elections” and form an inclusive government. Since taking office, the new leadership in Damascus has been adamant about lifting international sanctions. In recent weeks, violence erupted in Alawite-majority coastal areas west of Syria when Assad loyalists launched attacks on Damascus-affiliated security forces. The UK-based Syrian Observatory for Human Rights reported around 1,500 deaths, mostly Alawite civilians, adding that the deaths were namely caused by government or government-affiliated forces. The violence has sparked international condemnation, with calls by observers to link any relief to the new Syrian leadership to tangible commitments to an inclusive political process.
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