The sixth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” (Brussels VI), organised by the European Union, will take place on Monday 9 and Tuesday 10 May, to raise international awareness and support for the Syrian people.
While the international community is focused on the Ukrainian crisis, the EU intends to use the event to remind people that the Syrian crisis is still ongoing and that Syrians, whether in their own country or as refugees in neighbouring countries (Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, but also Egypt and Iraq), need international humanitarian assistance more than ever.
Monday will be devoted to discussions with civil society in a hybrid format. Three themes will be discussed: ‘giving space to Syrian voices’, ‘food assistance and food security’ and ‘youth’.
On Tuesday 10 May, the ministerial conference will be held in person for the first time since 2019, with the participation of EU representatives, Syria’s neighbouring countries, third countries, NGOs and international humanitarian and financial organisations.
The aim will be to collect additional pledges to support the Syrian population and refugees in host countries (Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, but also Egypt and Iraq) facing a multiple humanitarian crisis.
“This crisis does not make the headlines, but we must not forget that it is one of the biggest refugee crises and that there are 6.9 million internally displaced people in Syria”, a senior European official said on 5 May.
They mentioned the water crisis, the food crisis worsened by soaring prices, particularly cereals with more than 12 million people experiencing food insecurity, the economic crisis and the impact of Covid-19.
Last year, the Brussels V conference brought in €3.7 billion in pledges for 2021, out of a total of €5.3 billion for 2021 and beyond (see EUROPE 12689/8).
“€3.7 billion for 2022 would be a good result in a context of competing crises, but we expect more, and we can achieve more”, the source said.
Beyond the financial commitments sought, the meeting should also be an opportunity “to offer strong support to the UN’s efforts to implement Resolution 2254 and find a political solution to the crisis in Syria”, according to a European source.
Unlike in previous years, the EU will hold the sole presidency of the conference. As the EU refused to invite Russia to participate because of the invasion of Ukraine, the UN decided not to co-chair the event. Russia is a permanent member of the Security Council.
As of 5 May, 37 countries and 22 organisations, including UN agencies, had confirmed their participation. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant and Aminata Niang)