After having done so in her personal capacity (see EUROPE 12334/24), the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Federica Mogherini, welcomed on behalf of the Twenty-Eight, Thursday 26 September, the announcement by the United Nations Secretary-General of an agreement on the formation of a Syrian Constitutional Committee.
"The EU looks forward to the inaugural meeting of the Committee at the earliest possible opportunity and will monitor developments thereafter most closely. This is a definite step forward, and one that is certainly full of potential", the Twenty-Eight stressed in a joint statement. They express their readiness and willingness to support the developing peace process, in close conjunction and coordination with the UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen.
However, Europeans do not forget that the conflict continues, particularly in Idlib. The declaration therefore stresses "the urgent need for positive developments in parallel to the work in the Constitutional Committee". "The parties need to engage in confidence-building measures; they need to ensure humanitarian access and full respect for international humanitarian law; and not least, a full and lasting ceasefire must be declared across the whole of Syria", Member States say. According to them, such measures are important in themselves, but will also help to generate the positive atmosphere necessary to the success of negotiations between the Syrian parties.
Mrs Mogherini also recalled the importance of ensuring conditions propitious to the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees and internally displaced persons. "The EU will be ready to assist in the reconstruction of Syria when a comprehensive, genuine and inclusive political transition, in the framework of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and the Geneva process, is firmly underway", advise Europeans once again. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)