The interim government in Damascus will participate on Monday in an annual international conference aimed at securing aid pledges for Syria, which is grappling with severe humanitarian crises and an uncertain political transition following the fall of Bashar al-Assad.
Since 2017, the European Union has hosted the conference in Brussels, deliberately excluding Assad’s government due to his brutal actions during the civil war that began in 2011.
With Assad ousted in December, EU officials see this year’s gathering as a potential fresh start, despite recent deadly clashes this month between the new Islamist rulers and Assad loyalists.
“This is a time of dire needs and challenges for Syria, as tragically evidenced by the recent wave of violence in coastal areas,” said EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas.
However, she also described it as “a time of hope,” referencing a March 10 agreement to incorporate the Kurdish-led, US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces—which control much of northeastern Syria—into the country’s new state institutions.
Hayat Tahrir al-Sham, the group that deposed Assad, is classified as a terrorist organization by the United Nations. Still, EU officials are open to engaging with the new leadership, provided they honor commitments to an inclusive and peaceful transition.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani is expected to attend the conference alongside numerous European and Arab ministers, as well as representatives from international organizations.
EU officials emphasize the event’s significance, especially given the United States, under President Donald Trump, is making major cuts to humanitarian and development aid programs.
Last year’s conference secured pledges totaling 7.5 billion euros ($8.1 billion) in grants and loans, with the EU committing 2.12 billion for 2024 and 2025.
Currently, around 16.5 million Syrians require humanitarian assistance, including 12.9 million in need of food aid, according to EU data.
The devastation caused by the war has been exacerbated by a severe economic crisis, which has devalued the Syrian pound and plunged nearly the entire population into poverty.
