Eight countries urged the EU to “review and assess” its approach to Syria ahead of a broader discussion of the situation in the Middle East between EU foreign ministers, according to Euractiv.
The foreign ministers of Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Slovakia, and Slovenia wrote a letter to EU diplomatic chief Josep Borrell.
Our goal is a more active, outcome-driven, and operational Syria policy. This would allow us to increase our political leverage [and] the effectiveness of our humanitarian assistance.
Thirteen years after the Syrian conflict began, President Bashar al-Assad still holds power over many parts of the country. However, the EU imposed several sanctions against the country, severing official ties with Damascus.
In the letter, the ministers suggested ten areas that should be discussed “openly and without prejudice.” They also proposed the creation of an EU-Syria envoy post, tasked with re-engaging the Syrian ambassador in Brussels and liaising with both Syrian and regional players. Austria’s Foreign Minister Alexander Schallenberg stated:
After 13 years of war, we have to admit that our Syria policy has not aged well. Bitter as it is, with the help of Iran and Russia, the Assad regime remains firmly in the saddle, the Syrian opposition is fragmented or in exile altogether – the European Union cannot turn a blind eye to this reality any longer.
However, despite the pressure, EU officials stated that it was unlikely the bloc would begin to ease pressure on Syria over large-scale human rights abuses and war crimes.
