During the evening of Monday 6 March, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini announced that Brussels would host an international conference on Syria on Wednesday 5 April.
"The EU will host in Brussels on 5 April a conference on Syria and the region, supporting the future of Syria and the region, co-sharing this international conference with the UN, and with the governments of Germany, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar and the UK", Mogherini announced at the end of the Foreign Affairs Council. Over 70 delegations are expected to attend.
Mogherini added that the conference will be a follow up to the London conference on 4 February 2016 and will enable an update to be made on the international community's pledges to support Syrians both inside Syria and in the neighbouring countries of the region. In London, the international community had pledged €9 billion in aid. The delegations might also make new pledges of aid.
The meeting on 5 April, which will take place at foreign minister level, will also focus on how the international community can support a sustainable political settlement of the Syrian conflict. "I hope the conference can (...) try to establish a regional and international framework for support for the humanitarian support but also for the future [of Syria] – how we can together support the future of Syria and the region", Mogherini stated.
While stating the UN was leading the political negotiations for Syria, Mogherini said that during the conference, the international community would reflect on the support to be given for the reconstruction of the country. "Hopefully there will be some positive developments in Geneva and then it will be for us, for sure, to start planning what kind of support, we as the international community, can give to whatever is brokered by the UN in Geneva, by the Syrians in their talks", Mogherini added. The negotiations have thus far not made much headway.
On 4 April, thematic sessions will be organised, highlighting various aspects of international support provided in response to the crisis in Syria and the region. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)