Syria’s foreign minister to attend EU donor summit in Brussels

Syria's Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani is set to attend the upcoming donor summit for his country in Brussels on March 17, marking the first time Syria will be formally represented at the annual conference.

A European official confirmed the attendance to Reuters on March 12, per Caliber.Az.

This will be a significant moment for Syria, which has previously been excluded from direct representation at the summit.

The event, hosted by the European Union, is focused on "mobilising international support for an inclusive, peaceful transition" in Syria, and will take place for the first time since Bashar al-Assad was ousted from power in December.

Initially, it had been reported that Syria's interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, would be present at the donor meeting, but sources later clarified that he would not attend. The summit will still include a notable shift as Syria, represented by al-Shibani, will join discussions about its future, a departure from previous years when only representatives of Syrian civil society were invited.

The European Union is set to host the Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria, titled "Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition," on March 17, 2025. This pivotal event will mark the first time a representative of the Syrian government formally participates, with Foreign Minister Asaad al-Shibani in attendance. Historically, the conference has included Syrian civil society representatives but excluded official state participation.

The conference aims to mobilize international support for Syria's transition following the ouster of Bashar al-Assad in December 2024. Discussions will focus on fostering an inclusive, peaceful transition, addressing humanitarian needs, and supporting economic recovery and reconstruction efforts. The EU emphasizes the importance of a Syrian-led, Syrian-owned process to build a free, peaceful, and prosperous future.

By Khagan Isayev