From January 28 to 31, I was among the first politicians to visit Syria since the widely celebrated fall of Bashar al-Assad’s brutal regime. During my visit, I engaged with a broad spectrum of Syrians—those who never left, those who have returned from exile, and those who travel between Syria and their new homes abroad. My primary focus, however, was on those who remained throughout the war. More than 50 people took the time to share their experiences with me—at least half of them women.

A clear message emerged from these conversations: Syrians want a genuine transition. They seek more than just a change in leadership; they want a true transformation of governance and society—a new social contract. People are exhausted by war, repression, and external interference. Many emphasized the need for the European Union to take a principled stance in support of democratic change, economic recovery, and justice for the victims of Assad’s rule.

One activist put it best: “Be the wind in our backs—not the hands steering the wheel.” Civil society is reclaiming spaces that were long closed off, determined to make their fragile gains permanent. Syrians are clear about what they need: justice, security, economic recovery, and meaningful political participation. They are asking for international support, but not for external control.

The EU has long been a leading provider of humanitarian aid to Syria. But as the country moves into a post-Assad era, it is time to shift from short-term relief to long-term reconstruction and political support. Syrians have decided to take their future into their own hands. Now, the EU must stand with them—decisively, but not naively—ensuring that its policies empower Syrian civil society and local governance, rather than just new political elites and that a focus will remain on accountability, transitional justice and healing.

My full report on this pivotal moment in Syria, including in-depth reflections and key takeaways from my conversations, is now available. You can read it here.

Additionally, several media outlets have covered my visit and the broader implications for Syria’s future. You can find their reports here at Deutsche Welle, Bruxelles 2, Deutschlandfunk and RND.

The window of opportunity for change in Syria is open—perhaps briefly. The question now is: will we help keep it open?