On Thursday 18 May, the European Parliament said it was "firmly convinced" that the European Union should engage "more actively" in resolving the crisis in Syria.
In a joint resolution that was adopted on the EU's strategy on Syria, MEPs from the S&D, ECR, ALDE, Greens/EFA and EPP groups say that the EU must build on the big financial contribution it plans to bring post-conflict so that it can have a prime position in the negotiations conducted as part of the UN, and so that it can ensure a political transition by working on a specific line of action aiming to bring the parties closer together. In the MEPs' opinion, the EU must redouble its efforts in areas where its actions can have added value.
Expecting greater European involvement, Parliament hails the EU's strategy on Syria (see EUROPE 11745), while believing that this should also have focused on aspects concerning the fight against so-called Islamic State and other terrorist organisations listed by the UN. Parliament also believes that means should have been set out for contributing to the preservation of the multi-ethnic, multi-religious and multi-faith character of Syrian society.
In addition, Parliament urges High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini to start work on a concrete plan on the EU's participation in the reconstruction of Syria, and to commit to a common and participative effort with the big international and financial organisations as well as regional and local actors.
The MEPs also take advantage of this resolution to state their position on the settlement of the Syrian conflict and their condemnation of the atrocities and violations of human rights and humanitarian law, especially "the horrible chemical air strike on the town of Khan Sheikhoun (...) on 4 April 2017". (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)