Andrews welcomes €2.5 billion in EU funding to Syria

Fianna Fáil MEP Barry Andrews has welcomed a pledge by the European Commission to commit €2.5 billion for 2025 and 2026 to aid Syria’s transition process and the country’s socio-economic recovery.

The funding, per Andrews, will also address the humanitarian needs within Syria and across Jordan, Lebanon, Iraq, and Türkiye.

This announcement was made at the ninth Brussels-Syria conference in Brussels today by European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen.

For the first time, representatives of Syria’s government, the new interim authorities, were invited to attend.

Andrews said, “I wrote to the High Representative Kaja Kallas earlier this year to call for the Brussels-Syria conference to take place as soon as possible given recent developments in Syria. The pledges made at the Brussels-Syria conference are a lifeline for millions of Syrians.  The eruption of sectarian violence earlier this month has served as a stark reminder of the fragility and complexity of this transition in Syria.”

March 2025 marks 14 years since the Syrian civil war began, which has resulted in over 16 million people requiring humanitarian assistance in that time.

The fall of the Assad government in December took many by surprise, and Andrews noted that people returning to Syria are now “facing a harsh reality.”

The Fianna Fail MEP said “electricity and water shortages are a daily occurrence and millions of Syrians are facing dire humanitarian challenges. I am deeply concerned that the suspension of USAID by the Trump administration will exacerbate the humanitarian crisis in Syria, and it is clear that the EU and other international donors cannot fill the gap.”

“The United Nations says that at current growth rates, Syria would need more than 50 years to get back to its economic level before the outbreak of its devastating civil war. It is crucial to prioritise the fight against impunity and foster conditions for long-term stability, accountability, and peacebuilding in Syria. These elements are essential for ensuring that recovery efforts contribute to a just and sustainable future for all Syrians.”

Andrews also warned of the danger of thousands of landmines, unexploded shells and munitions that are scattered across Syria in major cities and rural areas that witnessed military operations and bombings over 14 years.

“Approximately 1.2 million Syrians have returned to their former homes and land after being displaced by the war. More than 200 people in Syria have been killed in incidents involving war remnants in the three months since the fall of the Assad regime. Accidental contact is killing hundreds. Children are particularly vulnerable to cluster munitions, sometimes mistaking them for toys. Bomb disposal experts have warned that no area in Syria is safe, this a serious concern going forward and further casualties must be prevented.”