On Monday 3 April, the European foreign affairs ministers said in Luxembourg that, in their opinion, Syria's President Bashar al-Assad had no political future in his country.
Saying this is a way for the European Union to respond to the new US administration – which said on Thursday 30 March that al-Assad's departure was no longer a "priority" for the USA.
"We still have the same position. I don't think there's a future for Assad. At the same time, this depends on the [political] process and the Syrians. I think the institutions could be kept but it's very difficult to keep Assad", the Dutch foreign minister, Bert Koenders, said on arriving at the EU Foreign Affairs Council.
In the opinion of France's Foreign Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault, "at the end of the political process, when it's about building the future Syria (...) France cannot imagine for a single moment that this Syria might be led by Bashar al-Assad. He has so much responsibility in the current situation."
Germany's Sigmar Gabriel spoke along the same lines. "We've always said that in the end, of course, the Syrians must decide who the president is, and the government, and that it's not very logical to resolve the issue of Assad at the start of the negotiations, because that can block everything", he said. He added that "a dictator", who had committed "horrible crimes in the region" could not stay in place "without punishment".
"After seven years, six and half years of war, it seems completely unrealistic to believe that the future of Syria will be exactly the same as it was in the past (...) It is up to the Syrians to decide, but up to all the Syrians to decide", High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated.
In the conclusions that it adopted, the Council nevertheless seemed more vague. It states that it would not be possible to have lasting peace in Syria under the current regime. It hails the joint statement of Mogherini and the European Commission, and says it has the same objectives as those in the statement (see EUROPE 11745).
Stating that it is important to put an end to the war by starting a real political transition, the Council says that this transition must be constructive and inclusive, in line with Resolution 2254 and the Geneva communiqué. It encourages the Syrian parties to participate constructively and unconditionally in the programme set out by the UN special envoy for the negotiations, and calls on the Syrian regime to put forward its own plans for a real inclusive political transition.
The Council also brings its support to strengthening the political opposition. Political progress will depend on the efforts made for reducing violence and creating a climate of trust on the ground. It mentions respect of the ceasefire, and complete and unhindered humanitarian access throughout the country, the lifting of sieges and the release of all people detained arbitrarily.
Saving lives by responding to the needs of the most vulnerable Syrians throughout the country is therefore a priority for Europeans. The EU foreign ministers moreover want to continue supporting the resilience of the Syrian population and society, and strengthening Syrian civil society organisations. The ministers also highlight the obligation of responding to war crimes in order to facilitate the process of national reconciliation and transitional justice.
While reaffirming that the EU will be ready to contribute to the reconstruction of Syria, the ministers stated that it will only do this when a comprehensive, true and inclusive political transition has really been started. "We must be ready, but this will only come when a political transition and a political agreement are in place", Mogherini told press.
The ministers will meet again on Wednesday, in Brussels, to discuss Syria at an international conference (see EUROPE 11759). (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)