The President of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, is scheduled to visit Syria on Friday for the first time since the fall of the Assad regime.
The trip, which will include stops in Amman and Beirut, highlights how important Syria's reconstruction after 14 years of civil war is to the bloc.
Syrian President Ahmad Al Shara will host Ms von der Leyen, who will be accompanied by Antonia Costa, EU Council leader, in Damascus.
A year after a visit by Hadja Lahbib, Europe's humanitarian commissioner, the trip comes as the EU is in the process of setting up a technical assistance hub within the Syrian Foreign Ministry, The National can reveal.
It will serve as an entry point for Syrian authorities to gain technical expertise from the EU and partners. The aim is to strengthen proficiency among Syrian civil servants attempting to rebuild the country, at a cost the World Bank puts at $216 billion.
“Syria remains a strategic priority for the EU,” a representative told The National. “The country presents a new context that is both hopeful and challenging. While being conscious of the risks, the EU believes a political partnership is one of the tools necessary to support Syria in this transition and to provide a framework for future engagement.”
Syria has returned to relative calm in the past year despite sporadic outbreaks of sectarian violence, threats from ISIS and Israeli incursions.
Mr Al Shara's government needs to stabilise security while also attracting investors. The new banknotes printed last month are an effort to boost the Syrian pound's value.
The Syrian conflict has proved a challenge for Europe, where far-right populists have gained popularity as they surfed on hostile rhetoric against millions of Syrian refugees.
The EU fully lifted sanctions on Syria in May, before any countries did, but it was followed by the US, which repealed the Caesar Act last month.
Last month, Europe's foreign ministers decided to move forward with a “new EU-Syria political partnership”, foreign affairs minister Kaja Kallas said.
The new partnership, which is still under discussion, will seek to bolster bilateral relations.
“Lifting sanctions alone does not bring economic prosperity,” Ms Kallas said. “Investors need to trust the legal system. Investors need to be sure that the situation is stable and will not get out of hand.”
Another focus of Ms von der Leyen and Mr Costa's visit to the Middle East will be the first EU-Jordan summit. “Our first ever bilateral summit will provide a great opportunity to strengthen our partnership and tackle shared challenges in these turbulent times,” Mr Costa said.
“Jordan is a strategic partner for the European Union and plays a pivotal role in the Middle East. The EU deeply values Jordan’s leadership and its generosity in sheltering Syrian refugees for over a decade.”
