Brussels, 19/07/2017 (Agence Europe) – On Wednesday 19 July, the European Union announced that it would provide €1.5 million to support the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism to Assist in the Investigation and Prosecution of Persons Responsible for the Most Serious Crimes under International Law Committed in Syria since March 2011. "Those responsible for war crimes need to be held accountable and as soon as possible", High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini stated in a press release. The €1.5 million provision to support the mechanism is to come from the instrument contributing to peace and stability. The mechanism was set up by the United Nations General Assembly in December 2016 but has not yet started its work because it €13 million annual budget has still not been fully financed. (CG)