The Council of Europe on Monday adopted a decision ending the partial suspension of the cooperation agreement between the European Economic Community and the Syrian Arab Republic.
“By ending the partial suspension, the Council restores full enforcement of the cooperation agreement, thus marking an important step toward strengthening bilateral relations between the EU and Syria,” the Council of Europe adds.
As a reminder, the partial suspension, established in 2011 and extended in 2012, had targeted specific provisions of the agreement related to trade in response to the grave human rights abuses carried out by the regime of Bashar al-Assad.
The Council of Europe recalled that significant political developments in Syria, notably the downfall of the Assad regime, have enabled the EU to resume its relations with Syria since 2024.
In 2025, the Council lifted economic sanctions against Syria, with the exception of those maintained for security reasons, and reaffirmed its support for a peaceful and inclusive transition, respect for human rights, and Syria’s reintegration into the international economic system.
