On EU-Syria political relations

(2026/2036(INI))

The European Parliament,

–having regard to UN Security Council Resolution 2254 (2015) on the situation in Syria,

–having regard to the Council conclusions on Syria and on the Middle East,

–having regard to its previous resolutions on Syria,

–having regard to Council Decision (EU) 2026/1087 of 11 May 2026 repealing Decision 2011/523/EU partially suspending the application of the Cooperation Agreement between the European Economic Community and the Syrian Arab Republic1,

–having regard to Rule 55 of its Rules of Procedure,

–having regard to the report of the Committee on Foreign Affairs (A10-0000/2026),

A.whereas the EU’s goal is a stable, secure, sovereign and peaceful Syria;

B.whereas Syria still faces recurring violence, a weak culture of governance, enduring division and mistrust, and continuous interference from regional powers, including Türkiye, Israel and Iran;

C.whereas Syria is confronted with the fallout of the US-Israeli war with Iran;

D.whereas Russian military bases of Khmeimim and Tartus remain; whereas Bashar al-Assad found refuge in Russia;

E.whereas Türkiye is still present in Syria, including through military operations in Kurdish-majority areas;

F.whereas Israel occupies the Golan Heights and expanded its military operations within Syria following the fall of the Assad regime;

G.whereas over 3.5 million Syrian refugees remain abroad, and over 7.4 million are internally displaced within Syria;

H.whereas the Council has approved the full resumption of the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement2;

I.whereas the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees remains severely constrained;

J.whereas 90 % of the Syrian population lives below the poverty line;

K.whereas the agreement between the Kurdish-led Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) and the Syrian transitional authorities of January 2026 outlined a pathway for the gradual integration of Kurdish forces and institutions into the Syrian state;

L.whereas Daesh (ISIS) remains a serious threat; whereas the Global Coalition against Daesh continues to fight against the terrorist threat; whereas the United States has completely withdrawn its military presence from Syria; whereas a number of ISIS fighters escaped from prisons and camps in early 2026, during clashes between the Syrian army and the SDF; whereas the US Government initiated a transfer of ISIS detainees from Syria to Iraq;

M.whereas post-Assad Syria has been marked by the resurgence of violence against minorities; whereas armed groups, including forces aligned with the transitional authorities, attacked Alawites in March 2025; whereas Christians suffered a bloody terrorist attack in Damascus in June 2025; whereas in Suweyda in July 2025, Druze militias, Bedouin tribal groups and the Syrian army clashed violently; whereas the Syrian army fought against Kurdish forces in early 2026;

N.whereas hundreds of thousands of Syrians, victims of the Assad regime and of Daesh, remain missing;

O.whereas most perpetrators of violence during the Syrian civil war have not yet faced accountability;

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1.Welcomes the fall of the brutal Assad regime and the Syrian transitional authorities’ engagement with the international community;

2.Reiterates its call on the Commission to develop a comprehensive strategy on Syria;

3.Underlines that EU support and the suspension of sanctions should continue to be strictly conditional on an inclusive political transition; notes the Council decision for a full resumption of the EU-Syria Cooperation Agreement;

4.Calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to act decisively towards political inclusiveness and engage in reforms guaranteeing pluralism, the rule of law and people’s participation in decision-making;

5.Welcomes the agreement reached between the Syrian transitional authorities and the SDF in January 2026;

6.Calls on all regional actors to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and sovereignty;

7.Recognises the immense challenges Syria faces in reconstructing the country;

8.Expresses serious concern about the severe humanitarian situation in Syria;

9.Notes the role of the EU and its Member States as the largest donors of humanitarian aid to the Syrian population;

10.Calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to ensure full and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the country;

11.Calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to create the necessary conditions for the safe and voluntary return of refugees;

12.Welcomes the role of ‘go-and-see’ visits, which allow Syrian refugees to visit Syria without losing their legal status;

13.Stresses that any EU support for reconstruction must be strictly conditional;

14.Reiterates the importance of building a neutral and efficient administration that respects the rule of law;

15.Considers the rebuilding of Syria’s energy and water infrastructure to be priorities in the wider reconstruction effort, alongside efforts to revitalise the banking system;

16.Welcomes the lifting of EU economic sanctions on Syria; reaffirms that the suspension of sanctions is conditional and reversible;

17.Expresses concern about the continued presence of terrorist organisations in Syria; calls for the EU, its Member States, and like-minded countries to step up their efforts to combat any resurgence of Daesh; deeply regrets the withdrawal of US troops from Syrian territory;

18.Notes the ongoing process of integrating various armed groups under the control of the Syrian transitional authorities; remains concerned by the presence of foreign jihadists involved in the Syrian security apparatus;

19.Stresses that the continued presence of EU nationals among Daesh detainees and the failure to address this issue undermine both regional and European security;

20.Reaffirms its appreciation for the Syrian transitional authorities’ efforts against drug trafficking;

21.Strongly condemns the deadly attacks, discrimination and intimidation against ethnic and religious minorities;

22.Calls on the Syrian transitional authorities to take all necessary measures to ensure the safety and security of all communities;

23.Calls for concrete measures to promote tolerance, social cohesion and inter-communal dialogue;

24.Underlines the importance of freedom of expression, freedom of association and of peaceful assembly and media freedom;

25.Reaffirms that the participation of women is essential for rebuilding Syria;

26.Firmly believes in the importance of transitional justice and the fight against impunity;

27.Highlights the issue of missing people as one of the priorities to be addressed;

28.Notes the measures adopted to promote judicial reform; expresses concern about reports of individuals without appropriate qualifications being appointed;

29.Deeply regrets the fact that very few former rulers of Syria have stood trial so far;

30.Instructs its President to have this resolution translated into and published in Arabic;

31.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and the governments and parliaments of the Member States.