The European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness, and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, announced that the EU is providing new humanitarian aid to Syria amounting to 235 million euros.

After her meeting with the leader of the new Syrian administration, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in Damascus today, Friday, January 17, she emphasized that the meeting was friendly and comprehensive, discussing the geopolitical situation in Syria and the region at large.

According to the European official, the future of Syria belongs to all Syrians, and governance should be inclusive. She also confirmed that she would provide a report to the EU Foreign Affairs Council regarding the reassuring and positive messages she heard from the authorities in Damascus.

During a press conference following her meeting with al-Sharaa, when asked about lifting sanctions on Syria, the European official noted that the sanctions were structured in a way that does not affect humanitarian work and that many of them have been eased after the 2023 earthquake. She mentioned that these sanctions were imposed on the former regime, but Europe is awaiting the establishment of an inclusive government and state that encompasses all Syrians in their diversity.

“What we want to see is the building of Syria, and a bright future for Syria where the rule of law prevails and human rights are respected, especially women’s rights. We really need to see this,” Lahbib added.

She continued, “I heard very encouraging words filled with wisdom and a direction toward involving all Syrians from the current leadership. This is good talk; we now need to translate this into action on the ground.”

According to her, “There are some European countries advocating for the removal of sanctions, but we need consensus on this matter. The ball is now in the court of the current authorities.”

This financial support announcement follows a similar announcement from German Development Minister, Svenja Schulze, allocating 60 million euros for humanitarian and relief projects in Syria.

Schulze stated on December 30, 2024, that “the humanitarian situation in Syria is catastrophic,” noting that these projects will be implemented through UN agencies and non-governmental organizations.

Also, last Sunday, German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock announced an additional 50 million euros for Damascus to provide food supplies, emergency shelters, and medical care.

She also suggested imposing a “smart” approach to dealing with the Western sanctions imposed on Syria, saying ahead of her participation in an international meeting in Riyadh on Syria that Germany proposes a “smart” approach to sanctions, allowing Syrians to receive relief and to quickly reap the benefits of the power transition. She emphasized that sanctions will remain imposed on those complicit with the ousted regime leader, Bashar al-Assad, who have committed serious crimes.

These statements were followed by comments from EU foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, who announced a meeting of the EU Foreign Ministers in Brussels on January 27 to discuss lifting sanctions on Syria, in an attempt to decide how to ease the EU sanctions imposed on Syria.

Kallas added that a European decision to ease sanctions would be conditional on the new Syrian administration’s approach to governance, which must include different groups, women, and “non-extremism,” without going into further details, according to Reuters.