On 13 January 2025, the European Neighbourhood Policy Chair at the College of Europe in Natolin organised a workshop titled “The New Syria and the European Engagement” examining Syria's complex transformation following the fall of the Asad regime.
The event addressed urgent questions about the country's path toward democratisation and Europe's role in supporting this journey. The key discussions centered on:
• The challenges and opportunities for Syria to democratise in a region marked by instability;
• The conditions necessary for a successful transition;
• Strategies for the EU and Member States to assist the process and structure policies toward the transitional government;
• Europe’s ability to remain influential amidst the involvement of powerful regional players.
The esteemed speakers at the workshop included:
- Mrs Maria AL ABDEH, Executive Director, Women Now For Development
- Mrs Claudia WALTHER, Senior Project Manager, Democracy and Social Cohesion, Bertelsmann Stiftung
- Dr Gudrun HARRER, Lecturer, University of Vienna
- Prof. Patrycja SASNAL, Professorial fellow at the European Neighbourhood Policy Chair; Visiting professor at UCLA
The discussion was moderated by Professor Adam ŁAZOWSKI, Visiting Professor and Scientific Coordinator of the European Neighbourhood Policy Chair at the College of Europe in Natolin.