ISDS Case Map
Syria
After years of pursuing a free-trade pact with the European Union, Syria is balking at signing a deal, as local businesses express worry about competition from European goods.
Syrian President Bashar al-Assad insisted on Thursday that Damascus must review a partnership agreement with the European Union, which had been due to be signed next week, before it can be sealed.
Syria on Sunday asked to postpone the signing of an economic partnership agreement with the European Union, following disputes over provisions covering human-rights and political reform.
EU diplomats in Brussels on Thursday (10 September) put off a decision on signing an Association Agreement with Syria until October at the earliest. EU foreign ministers meeting in Brussels next week were due to discuss the pact. But it was dropped from the agenda after the Netherlands said it would veto the existing text on human rights grounds.
Britain supports signing an economic pact between Syria and the European Union despite its concerns about human rights violations by Damascus, a British official said Tuesday.
After years of political wrangling, Syria's long-delayed Association Agreement (AA) with the European Union is expected to be ratified by EU member states by the middle of the year.
Minister of Economy and Trade Amer Hosni Lutfi underlined Tuesday that Syria is interested in signing the Syrian-European Association Agreement and joining the World Trade Organization because this will help accelerate the economic reform program in the country.
Visiting European Union (EU) Commissioner for External Affairs and Neighborhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner said here Monday that a long-delayed partnership agreement between the EU and Syria would be approved soon.
Syria and Turkey have recently bolstered economic relations by signing new agreements on trade, investment and finance.. Experts say the growing ties are in part a result of Ankara's ambitions to expand into Arab markets via Syria.
Syria today suggested Malaysia and Syria sign a free trade agreement to intensify economic, trade and investment ties between the two countries.
