In a dramatic diplomatic change, the European Union has initiated a new donor drive to support post-war reconstruction in Syria, with Syrian government representatives attending for the first time. The Brussels annual meeting is a remarkable departure from previous forums, where the Assad regime was excluded.
The EU is hoping the move will attract much-needed financial commitments to rebuild infrastructure and stabilize communities ravaged by more than a decade of war. Western countries are still wary of fully normalizing relations with Damascus, but officials see this as a pragmatic move to respond to Syria’s worsening humanitarian crisis.
The presence of the Assad regime at the Brussels gathering reflects changing regional geopolitics, with some nations calling for more engagement with Syria’s future. Nevertheless, differences remain on the issues of accountability, priorities in reconstruction, and human rights inside the war-torn country.
Diplomats have stressed that any donor money will be strictly tracked to make sure it reaches ordinary Syrians and not supports entrenched power bases. As negotiations progress, the meeting is being watched closely for indications of whether this is a turning point in Syria’s return to the international arena.
