On the evening of Monday 31 March, the High Representative of the Union Kaja Kallas and European Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid Hadja Lahbib welcomed the formation of the new transitional government in Syria. On the evening of Saturday 29 March, Syria’s interim president, Ahmed al-Sharaa, announced the formation of a new government of 23 ministers, including a single Christian woman, a Druze, a Kurd, an Alawite and the head of the ‘White Helmets’, but no prime minister.
“The aspirations of all Syrians must be fulfilled”, stressed Ms Kallas and Ms Lahbib in a joint statement, adding that the EU would stand by the Syrian people, while ensuring that the new government’s commitments to a peaceful and inclusive transition were respected. Ms Kallas and Ms Lahbib also announced that the EU was ready to work with this government to help it meet the immense challenges that lie ahead.
The High Representative and the Commissioner reiterated the EU’s “steadfast” support for a “Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition process, peaceful, inclusive of all components of Syrian society in their diversity where comprehensive transitional justice ensures accountability for all crimes and meaningfully contributes to national reconciliation”. In this context, the process launched by the National Dialogue Conference, held on 25 February, will play a crucial role, they warned. The EU also reiterated the fundamental need for all external actors to fully respect Syria’s unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity, condemning any attempt to undermine its stability and its prospects for a peaceful and inclusive political transition.
On the same day, the Élysée revealed the ‘roadmap’ for Syria agreed on 28 March by the heads of state or government of Cyprus, France, Greece and Lebanon. They supported the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Syria by the EU and undertook to increase their economic aid for the reconstruction of Syria. This commitment is based on the effective implementation by the Syrian transitional authorities of a “government that is inclusive, respectful and representative of all components of the Syrian society”, effective coordination of the Syrian authorities' forces with existing international counter-terrorism mechanisms and effective protection of all Syrian citizens. The heads of state or government also expressed their support for a regional approach to ensure an appropriate environment for Syrian refugees to return home in safety and dignity. A delineation of Syria’s maritime borders based on international maritime law and full respect for Syria’s sovereignty is also being put forward.
To see the roadmap: https://aeur.eu/f/g6t (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)