Damascus, July 7 (SANA)French PresidentEmmanuel Macronannounced Tuesday that France is prepared to return more than 50 million euros to Syria, representing illicit gains seized from a member of the deposed regime’s family, during a joint press conference with Syrian PresidentAhmad al-Sharaaat the People’s Palace in Damascus.

The announcement follows the signing of a declaration of intent between the French and Syrian foreign ministers regarding funds looted by the criminal Rifaat al-Assad from Syria. The declaration paves the way for the first recovery of Syrian assets confiscated abroad, to be redirected toward projects serving the Syrian people and aligned with state priorities.

€50 million from Rifaat al-Assad’s confiscated assets

A declaration of intent signed by both countries’ foreign ministers stated that the two nations will “begin the process of returning 50 million euros from the seizure of Rifaat al-Assad’s ill-gotten gains, confiscated by the French justice system”. According to AFP, the money had been frozen in France and will be used to finance “concrete development projects” in Syria.

Rifaat al-Assad went into exile in 1984 following a failed attempt to overthrow his brother, Hafez al-Assad. In 2021, he returned to Syria to escape a four-year French prison sentence for money laundering and misappropriation of Syrian public funds. Following the fall of the Assad regime in late 2024, he left Syria again, and his family announced his death in January at age 88.

Return of Syrian artifacts, economic cooperation

Macron also announced the return of 23 Syrian artifacts that had been on loan to the Arab World Institute since 2010. He stressed that France will support Syria in international financial organizations to finance reconstruction and implement projects, restore banking services, and enable Syrian employers to work.

Macron noted that Syria, located at the heart of the region and along energy, logistics and trade routes linking Europe and the Gulf, represents a space of shared interests in rebuilding infrastructure. He highlighted the presence of French company CEOs accompanying him for investment and reconstruction, including CMA CGM, which signed its first investment contract in 2025, andTotalEnergies, which continues its investments in energy, energy transport and renewables.

Earlier Tuesday, a roundtable meeting between Syrian and French officials at the People’s Palace in Damascus launched joint economic committees and witnessed the signing of memoranda of understanding and agreements for investment in several vital sectors, attended by Presidents al-Sharaa and Macron. The agreements were part of a package including the exchange of ambassadors and various trade agreements.

Macron’s visit marked the first by a French president to Syria since 2009, reflecting a new chapter in bilateral relations following the fall of the ousted regime in December 2024. During the visit, Macron also condemned ongoing Israeli violations and stressed the need for Israel’s withdrawal from occupied Syrian territory in line with the1974 Disengagement Agreement.