Why the EU Should Grant Syria Tariff-Free Access
Granting Syria temporary tariff-free access helps shift its recovery from humanitarian aid to partnership. What can we learn from Ukraine’s case?
Taxes in Syria, Episode Three: The Unseen Burden of Indirect Taxation
Syria’s reliance on indirect taxes and fees burdens lower-income households disproportionately. A modern, fairer tax regime—featuring VAT and excise reform—is long overdue.
External Contribution: Gönül Tol, Director of the Middle East Institute’s Türkiye Program
From reconstruction contracts to refugee returns, Türkiye is racing to shape Syria’s future—and Erdoğan’s own political survival may depend on it. Gönül Tol examines Türkiye’s ambitions, rivals, and red lines in the wake of Assad’s collapse.
Interview: Andrea Quaden, Executive Director, Aid Fund for Syria (AFS)
The Aid Fund for Syria expanded from the northwest to formerly regime-held areas after Assad’s fall, aiming to localize aid in support of early recovery. Emphasizing its apolitical approach, it faces funding cuts and sanctions hurdles.
Ringing the Alarm Bells: Syria May Be Facing Its Worst Drought in Decades
Rainfall in the first quarter of 2025 was the lowest since 1997, signaling a potential catastrophic drought. The implications for food security, livelihoods, and cholera outbreaks are dire, especially amid declining foreign aid.
Signs of Shifting Compositions in Company Registrations
Since the fall of Assad, Syria has registered 97 new companies, primarily small LLCs in non-productive sectors like trade. Foreign participation is increasing, with notable changes in nationality composition
Taxes in Syria, Episode Two: Achieving Social Equity through Direct Taxation
Direct taxes have declined sharply as Syria’s tax base eroded, while regressive fees surged, burdening the poor. Reform is urgent to create a fairer system, broaden revenue, and restore legitimacy in the post-Assad era.
Trapped Funds: The Fate of Syrian Deposits in Lebanese Banks
Billions in Syrian assets remain stuck in Lebanon’s collapsed banking system, depriving Syria of crucial reconstruction funds, with no path to recovery in sight.
External Contribution: Aaron Zelin, Senior Fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy
The Islamic State and al-Qaeda remain weakened but not eliminated; Damascus has thwarted several attacks since Assad’s fall. The government’s performance in counterterrorism will shape international engagement and Syria’s security trajectory.
Interview: Karam Bechara, General Manager at Shahba Bank (former Byblos Bank Syria)
Syria’s banks are compliant and ready to reconnect internationally, but recovery hinges on lifting sanctions, Central Bank independence, and rebuilding trust with local and foreign stakeholders.
Declining Aid in a Time of Rising Needs: Syria’s Humanitarian Crisis
As needs in Syria grow, aid keeps shrinking–a toxic and cyclical double whammy. Adjusted for inflation, we show how actual aid contributions for 2024 are the lowest since the inception of the Brussels Conference. Further still, UN-channeled funds have experienced steeper declines. The outlook for 2025 is equally bleak.
Inflation in the Post-Assad Era
Prices are finally falling, driven by customs reforms, the easing of domestic barriers to trade, and currency appreciation. However, when current constraints on liquidity are lifted, this might reverse.