MED Panels

17 Oct 2025
11:15 - 12:00  CEST
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Syria’s Transition: Taking Stock a Year In

Chair:
Zaid Eyadat

Founder and President, Levant Strategic Centre

Speakers:
Carolyn Browne

Director, Verification Division, Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW)

Alain Délétroz

Director General, Geneva Call

Archbishop Paul Richard Gallagher

Secretary for Relations with States, Holy See

Reem Turkmani

Assistant Professor, London School of Economics and Political Science (LSE)

The fall of Bashar al-Assad has opened a new phase in Syria’s history. Yet, almost one year into the transition, the country continues to face immense challenges. While the lifting of sanctions marks a positive step, reconstruction remains hindered by institutional fragility and the legacy of decades of widespread corruption. Meanwhile, the country’s political landscape remains very fragmented, also due to persistent sectarian tensions. Although the support of some regional and international actors raises hope for the future, the stakes for Syria and its battered population remain extraordinarily high. This session examines local political and economic dynamics, also focusing on the role the international community could play in the transition. What are the key challenges Syria will confront in its ongoing transition? How can a viable pathway to recovery be charted in such a delicate political environment? And what concrete actions can international and multilateral actors take to support this process?