Paris - Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
French President Emmanuel Macron will receive his Syrian counterpart, Ahmed al-Sharaa, on Wednesday, May 7, in his first European visit since the overthrow of Bashar al-Assad's regime, according to an announcement from the Élysée Palace.
The French presidency explained that the invitation comes as part of "demonstrating France's historic commitment to the Syrian people, who aspire to peace and democracy," noting that Macron will discuss with his counterpart "ways to achieve stability in the region, including Lebanon, and the fight against terrorism."
The French president had extended an invitation to al-Sharaa to visit Paris in early February, linking the invitation in March to "the formation of a Syrian government inclusive of all components of civil society." According to what was published by the European news network in Brussels, "Euronews," this visit comes at a time when the Syrian government is facing growing tensions with Israel and increasing violence against the Druze community, and previously the Alawite community, which has claimed the lives of hundreds of Syrians, both dead and wounded. A few days ago, the French Foreign Ministry condemned what it described as "sectarian violence" targeting the Druze in the south of the Syrian capital. It called on Syrian and regional parties to cease the clashes and urged the Syrian authorities to make efforts to restore calm.
The European Union decided to suspend a series of sanctions imposed on Syria last February, after nearly 14 years of civil war. The decision included lifting sanctions on five major financial entities: the Industrial Bank, the Popular Credit Bank, the Savings Bank, the Agricultural Cooperative Bank, and Syrian Arab Airlines.
Economic resources were also made available to the Central Bank of Syria, helping facilitate essential financial transactions.
In addition, the European Union decided to suspend restrictions on the oil, gas, electricity, and transportation sectors, as well as provide exemptions from the ban on banking relations between Syrian banks and European financial institutions, with the aim of facilitating humanitarian and reconstruction transactions. Last January, Sharaa met with French Foreign Minister Jean-Noël Barrot and German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock at the presidential palace in the Syrian capital, a move that reflected European openness to the new rulers of Damascus.