On Tuesday 17 December, President of the European Commission Ursula von der Leyen called for closer relations between the EU and the Islamist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS).
“Europe is ready to do its part to support Syria at this critical juncture (...) We have to step up and continue our direct engagement with HTS and other factions”, she stressed at a press briefing in Ankara with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan.
From Strasbourg, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Kaja Kallas announced that the EU was ready to reopen its delegation in Damascus. “We want it to be fully operational again”, she said, reiterating that a vacuum must not be left in Syria and that the EU must be present.
According to Ms von der Leyen, the EU will step up its commitment to early recovery, including “basic services, like electricity and water, and infrastructure”. Recalling that the EU was Syria’s biggest donor, she said that support should continue “with a new focus on reconstruction, this would be a step-by-step approach”.
“And we would need to start a discussion on sanctions’ relief. But this can only happen if real progress on a peaceful transition is seen on the ground”, she warned. The day before, Ms Kallas explained that she had discussed with the ministers the measures that could be taken in response to positive steps by the new Syrian authorities (see EUROPE 13546/1).
Mr Erdoğan felt that Syria needed to recover quickly “through the strong support of its neighbours, friendly countries, the international community including the European Union and international bodies”. “The international community failed to convey sufficient support to the people of Syria while they were being slaughtered during the past 13 years. Now they can compensate for it through support to reconstruction, recovery of Syria”, he added.
Ms von der Leyen also felt it was necessary to remain vigilant in the face of terrorism. “The risk of a Daesh resurgence, particularly in eastern Syria, is real. We cannot let this happen”, she warned. Explaining that Ankara’s legitimate security concerns had to be taken into account, Ms von der Leyen reiterated the importance of allowing all Syrians to be safe, including all minorities, by which she meant the Kurds.
Pointing out that Turkey had been “the only country, the only NATO ally” to defeat Daesh and the PKK on the ground, Mr Erdoğan warned that he would “not let those groups be revived. There is no future for Daesh or the PKK and its affiliates in our region”. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)