Brussels, 07/10/2015 (Agence Europe) - In a debate on Wednesday 7 October, the European Parliament called for more incisive action by the European Union towards a solution to the Syrian crisis.
The European Parliament must launch an appeal in Europe to get it to take a diplomatic route and take action. A political transition is needed and above all, not returning to the situation of the past, said Richard Howitt (S&D, United Kingdom). Russia should be part of the solution rather than the problem, he added, as Moscow took air strikes against “terrorists” in Syria, a move criticised by a number of MEPs. Elmar Brok of Germany, speaking on behalf of the EPP, said the peace process had to be promoted and he felt the EU had a crucial role to play to convince the Russians and the USA to cooperate with each other and discuss a common geopolitical strategy, as was done in the past for the Iranian nuclear agreement, adding that it would also be required to get Saudi Arabia and Iran around the same table.
The situation is extremely urgent and we must redouble our efforts and focus on the heart of the problem, said Diane Dodds (NI, United Kingdom), adding that Syria is run by an abominable dictator and Daesh is killing people using the methods of the Middle Ages, hence the influx of people arriving in Europe. Nicolas Schmit, a minister in the Luxembourg government speaking on behalf of the EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs, said putting an end to the war in Syria would require a dual approach. On the one hand, fighting effectively against the threat represented by Daesh and, alongside that, doing what is within Europe's competence to support the political process. He pointed out that the EU could help the United Nations, for example, by talking with the players in the crisis, pointing out that combating terrorism didn't mean fighting alongside the regime in the civil war.
Many MEPs do not see Bashar al-Assad as part of the solution, but Matteo Salvini (ENF, Italy) said that while everyone agreed that he was not ideal, Islamic State is worse and people putting Assad on a par with IS were dangerously deranged and needed medical treatment. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)