The Syrian Future Movement is closely following the Syrian Arab Republic’s participation in the meeting of foreign ministers of the Union for the Mediterranean, held in Brussels, Belgium, on Monday, July 14, 2025. This is Syria’s first official presence within this framework since its membership was suspended in 2011. The Union for the Mediterranean is considered one of the most important multilateral regional platforms, comprising 43 countries from Europe and the southern shore of the Mediterranean. It addresses strategic issues including sustainable development, energy, education, the environment, and youth and women’s empowerment. We believe that Syria’s participation embodies a qualitative diplomatic shift, enabling it to regain its natural position within the Mediterranean system and engage in multiple partnership programs aimed at improving public services and promoting development.
The Syrian Future Movement appreciates the meetings held by the Syrian Foreign Minister on the sidelines of the meeting with his counterparts from Austria, Spain, Jordan, and Lithuania, and considers them a necessary beginning for rebuilding political trust and developing technical and economic relations based on mutual interests and institutional respect.
The Syrian Future Movement emphasizes that this participation should not be limited to symbolic attendance, but rather be translated into operational policies that enhance transparency and activate regional cooperation in productive sectors, particularly vocational education, digital transformation, and a sustainable environment. It emphasizes that Syria’s openness to the European Union must be matched by internal openness in the institutional and legal structure, thus strengthening the state’s credibility and restoring citizens’ standing in the decision-making process.
The Syrian Future Movement believes that the presence of Syria and Israel on the same platform, even if it does not include an official, announced meeting, highlights a shift in the rules of diplomatic engagement and obliges Syria to adopt a careful foreign policy that respects sovereignty and preserves constants, without slipping into disguised normalization or ill-considered bargaining.
In light of this, the Syrian Future Movement calls for the formation of an independent national body to address the Mediterranean relations issue. This body, comprising experts in public policy, economics, education, and energy, should work to develop an integrated national strategy to transform this openness into practical gains that serve Syrian society.
Emphasizing that Syria’s restoration of its regional role will only be effective if it is coupled with an internal political will for reform, a responsible administration that places public interests above narrow considerations, and builds partnerships that achieve development, justice, and citizenship.
