On Sunday 8 and Monday 9 December, European leaders welcomed the fall of Bashar al-Assad, overthrown by the HTS. This terrorist group and its leader, Abu Mohammad al-Julani are sanctioned by the United Nations.
Since the uprising in 2011, the al-Assad regime’s repression has left more than half a million people dead and more than 130,000 political prisoners. Between 12 and 14 million Syrians have had to leave their homes and over 7 million have fled the country.
“The fall of Assad’s criminal regime marks a historic moment for the Syrian people, who have endured immense suffering and demonstrated extraordinary resilience in their pursuit of dignity, freedom, and justice“, stressed the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, in a statement on behalf of the EU27.
Ms Kallas said the EU stood by all Syrians, “both in the country and in the diaspora, who are full of hope, but also those who fear an uncertain future”. “All must have an opportunity to reunify, stabilise and rebuild their country, restore justice and ensure accountability”, she warned, adding that the fall of al-Assad should allow Syrians to know the truth about the fate of their loved ones.
The High Representative reiterated that it was essential to preserve the country’s territorial integrity and respect its independence, sovereignty and State institutions, and to reject all forms of extremism.
“Now more than ever, it is imperative that all stakeholders engage in an inclusive, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned dialogue on all key issues to ensure an orderly, peaceful and inclusive transition, in the spirit of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and in accordance with the will of the Syrian people”, added the High Representative, urging all actors to avoid further violence, ensure the protection of civilians and respect international law, including international humanitarian law. She called for the protection of all minorities, the safety of foreign nationals and respect for diplomatic representations in Damascus.
On Saturday, in an official statement issued by the European External Action Service, the EU urged “all parties to protect civilians and ensure the safety of humanitarian workers”. The following day, the European Commissioner for Equality, Preparedness and Crisis Management, Hadja Lahbib, called for “the protection of civilians and civilian infrastructure, respect for international humanitarian law and safe, unhindered humanitarian access” on her X account.
The EU by the side of the people. The Europeans have given their support to the Syrians. “In this critical period, the European Union stands with the Syrian people and remains in close contact with partners in the region and key international partners”, promised Ms Kallas.
The spokesperson for the European External Action Service said that the EU had no contact with the HTS. “The EU is not currently engaging with HTS or its leaders full stop”, said Anouar El Anouni, adding that as the group takes on “greater responsibilities, we will need to assess not just their words but also their actions”.
For his part, the President of the European Council, António Costa, said that the EU was ready to work with the “Syrian people for a better future”, adding that a new opportunity for freedom and peace was opening up for all Syrians, “which is also crucial for the stability of the region”.
Support called for by the European Parliament. In a joint statement, the Chair of the European Parliament’s Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister (EPP, German), the Chair of the European Parliament Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Laurent Castillo (EPP, French), and the permanent rapporteur for Syria, Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, French), stressed the “urgent need for the EU to support Syrian reconciliation, justice and accountability”. According to the MEPs, “the coming weeks will be decisive for the future of Syria”.
They called on the EU and its Member States to give their full support to the civil transition in Syria, a transition they want to be “peaceful, responding to the democratic aspirations of the Syrian people and guaranteeing the protection of all Syrians”, while the country’s diversity “represents a solid foundation on which Syria can be rebuilt”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant with Bernard Denuit)