Macron invites Syria’s Sharaa to France for first EU visit: What to know

French President Emmanuel Macron invited interim Syrian President Ahmed al-Sharaa to France and declared his support for the country’s political transition during a phone call on Wednesday, the Syrian presidency said, in the latest sign of Europe’s outreach.

A statement released by the presidency said that Macron congratulated Sharaa on assuming the presidency and expressed his “complete support for the transitional phase in Syria.” 

Sharaa was declared president last week during a meeting of the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham and other former rebel groups that overthrew Syrian President Bashar al-Assad in December. Sharaa and other HTS members are currently leading Syria’s transitional government.

The two discussed security issues in Syria as well as sanctions on the country, which Sharaa described as “challenges.” Macron noted France’s efforts to lift the sanctions on Syria, according to the statement.

“Macron stressed his country’s endeavors to lift the sanctions on Syria and pave the way for growth and recovery,” the statement said.

Sharaa thanked Macron for France’s “supportive stances” since the start of the Syrian civil war in 2011. The statement concluded by saying that Sharaa received an invitation from Macron to visit France in the coming weeks. 

Macron’s office did not immediately comment on the call.

Earlier this week, Sharaa made his first international trip as president to Saudi Arabia, followed by a visit to Turkey.

Why it matters: France has a complex history with Syria but has moved to shore up ties since the fall of Assad. French Foreign Minister Jean-Noel Barrot visited Damascus earlier this month alongside his German counterpart, Anna Baerbock.

In December, France sent a team of diplomats to Damascus to start the process of reopening the French Embassy in Syria.

Many EU states view Syria as crucial to their stability, particularly because the Syrian civil war has contributed to Europe’s migrant crisis. Europe is additionally eager to reduce the influence of Russia, a major backer of Assad, in Syria, Al-Monitor reported at the time of Barrot’s trip.

France cut ties with Syria in 2011 over the civil war and called on Assad to step down. In June of last year, a French court upheld an arrest warrant for Assad over his alleged involvement in a 2013 chemical attack.

Relations were friendlier before the war, and Assad visited France in 2008. Then-French President Nicolas Sarkozy sought to ease Syria’s international isolation with the invitation, according to French media reports at the time.

Know more: Syria remains subject to a variety of Western sanctions, many of them related to Assad’s conduct during the civil war. Sharaa and other Syrian officials have repeatedly called for the sanctions to be lifted so that the war-torn country can develop.

Late last month, EU foreign ministers agreed on a plan to start lifting sanctions on the country. Barrot said at the time that the bloc could start by suspending sanctions on the energy, transport and banking sectors.