- October 01, 2025
- ,14:00
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- October 01, 2025
- ,15:30
After more than a decade of devastating conflict, the collapse of the Assad regime came with unexpected speed: within just two weeks in December 2024, a new chapter began. The formation of an interim government has opened a brief and fragile window for domestic and international actors to help shape Syria’s future. Yet, while politics begins to reorganize, millions of Syrians face the far more immediate challenge of rebuilding their lives amid the physical and emotional ruins of war and oppression. For many, governance remains a distant concern.
At the same time, large parts of the country remain outside the control of the interim authorities, and conflict continues to flare in contested regions. Power dynamics are fluid and unpredictable. Amid this uncertainty, Syrians at home and abroad are asserting their voices in the emerging republic, while international actors move quickly to establish relations with the new leadership. This panel discussion featured speakers Dr. Usahma Darrah (Friends of the Syrian People e.V.), Yasmin Merei (Women for Common Spaces e.V.), Dr. Bente Scheller (Heinrich-Böll-Stiftung), and Ambassador Dr. Stefan Schneck. Together with Dr. Stormy-Annika Mildner, the panelists examined deeper questions about the values and visions that might guide Syria’s next chapter. What hopes and expectations do Syrians inside the country hold today and what are the considerations of those thinking about returning? How can Germany and its European partners contribute meaningfully to the development of resilient institutions and inclusive governance? And what role must truth, accountability, and reconciliation play to ensure the durability of Syria’s newly won freedom? The event was held on October 1, 2025, under Chatham House Rule at Haus Kunst Mitte.
