Hello ESTers, how have you been? 

Last week, millions of Muslims celebrated Eid al-Adha (or the Feast of Sacrifice), which falls on the tenth day of Dhu al-Hijja, the last month of the Islamic lunar calendar. From the Observatory, we wish a blessed and happy Eid for those who celebrate. We hope that this special occasion brings relief and peace to people living extraordinary circumstances.



عيد أضحى مبارك، كل عام و أنتم بخير!



After this edition, we will take a well deserved summer break to come back again to you in September.

And now, without further ado, let’s dive once more right InsideMENA!



And now, without further ado, let’s dive once more right InsideMENA!



PS: If you are reading this on the website, don’t forget to subscribe to InsideMENAto directly receive it in your email every fortnight!



Edited by Hafssa Fakher Elabiari and Sibilla Gosso



Note that the information, views and opinions set out in the newsletter are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the opinion or position of the editors, of the European Student ThinkTank, and of their affiliated-entities or institutions.







The EU Lifts Economic Sanctions on Syria

By Hannah

An overdue decision. Last week, six months after the fall of Assad, the EU decided to lift all economic sanctions on Syria. This means that sanctioned entities can now access the EU’s financial market once again. This includes the Syrian Central Bank, and 24 other entities, such as banks or companies operating in sectors seen as vital to Syria’s economic recovery, including oil production and refining, cotton, and telecommunications.

The lifting of economic sanctions is critical to the reconstruction of a country ravaged by 14 years of war. At the same time, Germany’s Foreign Minister warned that this is an opportunity for Syria’s new leadership. Al Sharaa and his government would be expected to involve the entire population and all religious groups.



Actually… not all sanctions. Sanctions tied to security will remain in place. Sanctions targeting individuals and organisations linked to the Assad regime, including those responsible for violence and repression acts, have been extended for another year. Additionally, following the wave of violence in the coastal region in March 2025, which targeted Alawite communities, the European Council introduced new restrictive measures targeting two individuals and three entities for serious human rights abuses.



It’s never easy. This ease in economic restrictions by the EU comes alongside similar moves by the US and the UK. The rationale is that lifting sanctions should bring in investments across critical areas of reconstruction including health, infrastructure, housing and livelihoods. But… there still remains about 6.7 million Syrians displaced within the country and 5.2 million refugees in neighbouring countries. The safe, voluntary and sustainable return of people to their homes will only be possible once essential conditions are in place. Lifting sanctions is a critical first step in this journey.





Towards a Renewed Partnership: The New Pact for the Mediterranean, consultations in Cairo and Rabat

By EST Contributor

A new collaboration in the Mediterranean. In May 2025, two of the main EuroMeSCo Consultation Circles took place in Rabat (13-14 May) and Cairo (27-28 May), bringing together more than 170 voices from across the Mediterranean to shape the foundations of the new pact for the Mediterranean, the European Union strategic framework for cooperation with its Southern Neighbourhood. Co-organised by the European Institute for the Mediterranean (IEMed) and the EuroMeSCo network, and supported by local partners, the Policy Center for the New South in Rabat and ACPSS and the American University in Cairo (AUC), these consultations created inclusive, closed-door platforms for regional stakeholders to engage in structured dialogue. Participants included policymakers, researchers, civil society leaders, youth representatives, and private sector actors.



A regional agenda with shared priorities. Both events centred on shared priorities, such as economic development (through trade, investment and private sector engagement), youth empowerment (via skills development, education and mobility), and sustainable transformation (with a focus on climate-resilient strategies for food systems, water management, and environmental governance). These consultations demonstrated a clear shift in the EU’s engagement model: one that listens and incorporates regional perspectives rather than prescribing top-down agendas. The new Pact aspires to be more than just a policy document, it aims to be a mutually shaped, action oriented framework rooted in co-ownership.



During the Cairo session, EU Ambassador Angelina Eichhorst highlightedthat regional partnerships must be grounded in trust, inclusion and relevance to the lived realities of MENA societies. The active participation of youth, civil society, and local institutions across both events is a strong signal that the path forward lies in shared priorities that are also deeply regionally grounded.