Overview
- European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen met Syria's transitional government in Damascus for the first time and pledged support for recovery and reconstruction.
- Von der Leyen said the EU will do everything in its power to help rebuild, according to her statement posted on X after the talks.
- She and European Council President António Costa met transitional president Ahmed al-Scharaa during the visit to the Syrian capital.
- Al-Scharaa said discussions covered cooperation, reconstruction, humanitarian concerns and the refugee question in Europe.
- The EU has lifted sanctions imposed during the civil war and remains a major funder of aid to Syria, setting the stage for deeper involvement with details still to be defined.