The recent Brussels ministerial meeting has marked a pivotal shift in the European approach towards aid delivery in Syria, moving the focus towards early recovery rather than focusing mainly humanitarian aid. This transition is seen as essential for empowering communities to regain their livelihoods, although it remains a contentious topic with some advocating for continued humanitarian interventions to support those in dire need and maintain the push for a UN-facilitated peace process.

The concept of early recovery is complex and lacks a universally agreed-upon definition, blending post-disaster humanitarian responses and post-conflict economic recovery frameworks. This approach does not imply an immediate cessation of humanitarian aid but rather a gradual transition over based on the humanitarian/peacebuilding/development nexus.

Resource scarcity necessitates leveraging local resources and shifting from supply-side aid to incentivize local demand and revitalize the local economy. This requires a significant change in mindset, particularly among Western donors, who must balance multiple priorities such as containing Syrian refugees within Syria, demanding political reforms, promoting regional stability, and preventing the internal collapse of the Syrian state enabling radical non-state actors to control the scene.

To make early recovery effective, certain revisions are essential. These include decoupling the notion of the “regime” from government institutions to reduce unnecessary politicization, recognizing the state's regulatory role, prioritizing the needs of people over political agendas, and empowering a new generation of local leaders connected to their communities to leverage political agency.

The next steps involve encouraging political actors to revisit their taboos, maintaining open political channels, fostering local actors' agency, and providing incentives for incremental progress. Practical solutions require dismantling political taboos from 2011 and promoting dialogue and cooperation at local levels to achieve tangible benefits and long-term reconciliation.

Ultimately, early recovery represents a paradigm shift in managing Syria's ongoing crisis, emphasizing practical, inclusive solutions and the need for all parties to take the imitative, engage constructively and stop being dismissive.