European Union nations are seeking assurances from Syria’s new leadership that they are committed to a peaceful political future inclusive of all minority groups, and free from extremism, Russian influence, and Iranian interference, senior diplomats revealed on Monday. Since the fall of Damascus on December 8 and the subsequent departure of President Bashar Assad to Moscow, the transition of power in Syria has unfolded with unexpected ease. Reports of reprisals, sectarian violence, or revenge killings have been minimal, with most instances of looting or destruction swiftly contained.
However, despite the relatively smooth transition, the new leadership in Syria has yet to articulate a clear roadmap for governance. The interim government, established by former opposition factions led by the Islamic extremist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), designated by both the EU and U.S. as a terrorist organization, is currently in place until March. Arab foreign ministers have advocated for U.N.-supervised elections based on a new constitution, with the EU dispatching an envoy to engage in discussions with the current ruling authorities.
EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas emphasized the bloc’s desire for a stable, inclusive, and peaceful government in Syria, acknowledging that the process of charting a new course for the country may take several weeks, if not months, to materialize. Describing Syria’s future as both optimistic and uncertain, Kallas underscored the importance of tangible actions complementing verbal commitments.
Syria, after enduring five decades of rule under the Assad family, finds itself grappling with a shattered economy, widespread poverty, soaring inflation and unemployment rates, and pervasive corruption. The humanitarian crisis has driven millions of Syrians to seek refuge in Europe, prompting certain EU member states to halt asylum applications from Syrian refugees, offering assistance only to those willing to repatriate.
In response to Assad’s brutal crackdown on civilian protests in 2011, the EU initiated asset freezes and travel bans targeting Syrian officials and entities supportive of the regime, imposing sanctions on hundreds of individuals and organizations. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot underscored that lifting sanctions or providing development aid to Syria hinges on meeting several prerequisites, including a political transition that safeguards the representation of all ethnic minorities, upholds human rights, preserves women’s rights in Syria, and denounces terrorism and extremism.
His Spanish counterpart, Jose Manuel Albares, emphasized the EU’s non-negotiable “red lines” that must be respected by Syria’s new leadership, such as ensuring the country’s territorial integrity and preventing foreign intervention. Dutch Foreign Minister Caspar Veldkamp echoed calls for the withdrawal of Russian military forces from Syria, asserting the EU’s stance on the matter.
In a pointed message directed at Syria’s new rulers, Kallas cautioned against relying on Russia and Iran for support, asserting that their allegiances lie elsewhere and signaling their weakened position by distancing themselves from Assad’s regime.
