European Commissioner for the Mediterranean Dubravka Šuica said on Monday that the European Union was preparing financial support packages worth a total of 355 million euros to assist Syria’s reconstruction and recovery efforts.  Speaking during the EU-Syria Partnership Coordination Forum in Brussels, Šuica said the EU was working to implement a 175 million euro package alongside a second package valued at 180 million euros scheduled for later this year.  She said the funding aimed to support Syria’s recovery process by encouraging investment in both the public and private sectors and increasing the involvement of European banks.  Šuica said the support was important as Syria worked to rebuild infrastructure and restore services following years of conflict.  The European commissioner added that facilitating investment and reconstruction would also help create conditions supporting the voluntary and safe return of Syrian refugees.  She said many Syrians living abroad possessed skills and expertise that could contribute to rebuilding the country.  Šuica also announced plans to organize an investment conference later this year aimed at supporting Syria’s recovery efforts and refugee return initiatives.  The remarks came during the opening of the EU-Syria Partnership Coordination Forum, which brought together Syrian and European officials to discuss reconstruction, economic cooperation and institutional recovery.  Syrian Foreign and Expatriates Minister Asaad Hassan al-Shaibani participated in the forum and called for broader partnership between Syria and the European Union based on mutual interests and long-term stability. (ICE BEIRUT)

Fonte notizia: Syrian Arab News Agency