Brussels, May 11 (SANA) European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said on Monday that the European Union was supporting Syria’s transition “from crisis to recovery,” as Syrian and European officials discussed reconstruction and economic cooperation during the EU-Syria Partnership Forum in Brussels.
Speaking during a joint press conference with Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani on the sidelines of the forum, Šuica said Syria’s reconstruction required broad international cooperation because of the scale of the country’s needs after years of war.
“Syria is one of the most important countries in the eastern Mediterranean, and its reconstruction requires working together because the needs are extensive and enormous,” Šuica said.
She added that the European Union was supporting Syria’s health institutions and infrastructure while promoting economic and social recovery and institution-building efforts, describing those efforts as the foundation for “a prosperous Syria for all.”
The European commissioner said Syria was moving in the right direction, while stressing that recovery and reconstruction would require time.
She added that rebuilding Syria also depended on strengthening resilience and restoring hope among Syrians.
For his part, al-Shaibani said Syria was entering a new phase aimed at establishing a sustainable institutional framework moving beyond humanitarian assistance toward broader bilateral cooperation and partnership based on mutual interests.
Speaking during the joint press conference, al-Shaibani said Syria was approaching discussions with European partners “with the utmost seriousness.”
“We expect this meeting to lay a solid foundation for mutual understanding with our partners,” he said.
Al-Shaibani said Syria was working to rebuild state institutions and support the voluntary return of refugees.
“In Syria, we do not have minorities and majorities. Everyone is Syrian under Syrian law and the Syrian constitution,” he said.
The Syrian foreign minister said the current geopolitical moment presented rare opportunities for both the Middle East and Europe, stressing that investment and economic engagement required swift action.
“Historic windows close if they are not utilized at the right time,” al-Shaibani said.
He added that Syria had worked over the past year and a half to strengthen regional stability and was continuing reconstruction and infrastructure recovery efforts.
Al-Shaibani also said Syria’s geographic position enabled it to become a strategic and stable route for international supply chains.
“Syria today can become one of the secure routes for global supply chains,” he said.
The Syrian foreign minister added that Damascus viewed the European Union, the United States and Gulf Arab countries as partners in Syria’s recovery and development efforts.
He also described Lebanon as “a neighbor and partner,” while noting ongoing economic cooperation between the two countries.
Al-Shaibani said Syria continued to have security concerns related to uncontrolled weapons held by some militias, while emphasizing efforts to strengthen bilateral relations beyond the legacy of the deposed regime.
Al-Shaibani concluded by saying that Israel had worked over the past year and a half to destabilize Syria, adding that Damascus remained committed to the 1974 Disengagement Agreement and to strengthening the role of the United Nations Disengagement Observer Force (UNDOF).
He added that Syria had engaged in negotiations under U.S. sponsorship because it wanted to focus on reconstruction, stability and creating conditions for the safe return of Syrians.
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