EU Leaders Meet With Syrian President to Pledge Recovery Support After Years of Civil War

European Council President António Costa (L) reads a statement next to European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen, at the presidential palace in Baabda, east of Beirut, Lebanon, on Jan. 9, 2026. Hussein Malla/AP Photo

Senior European Union (EU) officials on Jan. 9 met with Syrian leader Ahmed al-Sharaa in Damascus, pledging financial, economic, and political support to help rebuild the country following years of civil war that became a multi-sided conflict involving global and regional powers.

European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen told Sharaa during a meeting at the Syrian presidential palace that the EU is proposing a new cooperation framework with Damascus.