ISTANBUL

The EU plans to increase its pledge for Syrians to around €2.5 billion ($2.7 billion) for 2025 and 2026, the European Commission president announced Monday.

“Syrians need greater support, whether they are still abroad or they decide to go home, and this is why today, the European Union is increasing its pledge for Syrians in the country and in the region to almost 2.5 billion euros for 2025 and 2026,” Ursula von der Leyen said at the 9th international conference in support of Syria held in Brussels.

Reiterating the need to rebuild cities and restart the economy, von der Leyen said: “There are entire cities to be rebuilt and all economy to restart, and this is why we have suspended our sanctions on key economic sectors. This includes energy transport and the financial transactions that are linked to them, and we are ready to do more to attract the necessary investments for reconstruction.”

She also considered the Syrian authorities’ commitment to protect minorities and to form an inclusive government to be “vital” for reconciliation.

The European Commission president also said that they are planning to hold the civil society dialogue on the Brussels conference in Damascus, underlining that all Syrians “deserve to take their future into their hands.”

“The future of Syria is for all Syrians to build, those who always fought for freedom and those who just discovered hope, those who fled and those who stayed. This must be the promise of the new Syria, and we will do everything that is possible so that this can be fulfilled,” von der Leyen added.

Since 2017, the EU has held an annual donor conference in support of Syria, during which the bloc offers grants and aid to war-devastated Syria and to countries hosting Syrian refugees.

This year’s conference is attended by Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad Al-Shaibani.