The European Union is set to strengthen ties with Syria by resuming formal political contacts, paving the way for closer economic cooperation, marking a major political shift after a long hiatus, Reuters reported.
The document, seen by Reuters, was circulated to EU governments this week and says the bloc will fully restore a 1978 cooperation agreement with Syria and will start high-level political dialogue with the Syrian transitional government on the 11th of May.
The EU has said it will review and adjust its sanctions regime to maintain leverage in talks with the Syrian government and avoid obstacles during the transition.
Syria, under the leadership of new interim President Ahmed al-Shara, is seeking to re-enter international politics after 14 years of civil war, and most Western sanctions were lifted late last year.
The EU-drafted document outlines a plan to take the necessary steps to promote economic cooperation,
including trade and investment guidelines, private sector investment and support for reforms that will improve Syria’s business environment. The EU will also work with Syrian authorities to ensure the safe, voluntary and dignified return of war refugees. There are currently more than a million Syrians in Europe, and about half of them live in Germany. The return of asylum seekers is at the top of the agenda in all talks between the Europeans and Damascus.
Syria could become a critical transit point, and the document also mentions this. This is especially important now, when the conflict in Iran has led to the closure of the Strait of Hormuz and an energy crisis. Turkey, Syria and Jordan have agreed to renovate their railway networks to create a transit corridor connecting southern Europe with the Persian Gulf.
On security, the document states that the EU could provide support for training Syrian police and building the capacity of the Interior Ministry, as well as cooperating in the fight against terrorism and efforts to reduce drug trafficking and organized crime.
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