After Iraq ex-MP’s killing, Lebanon asks Syria to extradite suspects
Longtime Sunni politician and Iran critic was reportedly strangled in Beirut, sparking investigation.
The European Union is set to strengthen its investment ties with Syria at a high-level forum in Damascus next week, in a bid to stabilize the nation and mitigate the influence of Iran and Russia, former Assad regime allies. The EU plans to invest significantly in rebuilding Syria, with an EU official stating that a prosperous and secure Syria could benefit all of Europe and the region.
Syrian Foreign Minister Asad Al-Shibani and EU Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Suica will co-chair the Syria Partnership Coordination Forum. The forum aims to lay the foundation for a potential EU-Syria business conference in 2027, marking the European Investment Bank's return to Syria for the first time in 15 years.
Representatives from EU and Gulf states, international development banks, and UN agencies will also attend. The World Bank will present the START trust fund, supporting recovery and reconstruction in Syria. The EU aims to limit the "malign influence" of Russian and other foreign actors on Syria, as the Russian military presence and economic leverage continue to pose concerns.
Challenges remain in economic recovery, national reconciliation, and the reintegration of internally displaced people and refugees. The EU has pledged €175 million for Syria in 2024-25 and €280 million for 2026-27, while US sanctions against Syria were lifted last year. The forum precedes a major business forum in Aqaba, Jordan, where over 100 EU corporations and 300 European participants will gather.
Written by urgent.news from The National UAE's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
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