The European Parliament,

–  having regard to Rule 123(2) of its Rules of Procedure,

A.  whereas hostilities in Syria have escalated, particularly in Aleppo, which has come under heavy aerial bombardment, including attacks against medical facilities; whereas the situation has seen a dramatic and rapid deterioration, despite efforts by the international community to establish a cessation of hostilities;

B.  whereas the European Union is one of the main contributors to humanitarian aid for people fleeing the historic violence and destruction in Syria; whereas the lack of international unity makes a negotiated solution to the war in Syria significantly more difficult to achieve;

C.  whereas the EU should pursue its efforts and, collectively, through the High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, play a more pronounced role in mediating a peace deal for Syria;

1.  Strongly condemns all attacks against civilians and civilian infrastructure, the continuation of all sieges in Syria and the lack of humanitarian access to the Syrian people in need; expresses its deepest concern for the human suffering in the besieged areas of Aleppo and throughout Syria, affecting many women and children, who do not have access to essential humanitarian goods and desperately need food, clean water and medical supplies;

2.  Deeply deplores and unconditionally condemns the recent attacks on a humanitarian relief convoy and a Red Crescent warehouse near Aleppo as severe and alarming violations of international humanitarian law and as a possible war crime; pays tribute to the humanitarian workers who died in the effort to assist the people of Aleppo and throughout Syria and extends its sincerest condolences to the families and friends of the victims; calls for consequences and accountability for those guilty of committing war crimes and crimes against humanity;

3.  Calls upon all parties in the conflict, and especially Russia and the Assad regime, to stop all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including water and electrical infrastructure, to undertake credible and immediate steps for the cessation of hostilities, to lift all sieges and to allow rapid, safe, and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies to reach all people in need;

4.  Welcomes the EU emergency humanitarian initiative for Aleppo, which, in addition to mobilising funds for urgent humanitarian needs, aims to ensure medical evacuations of wounded and sick people from Eastern Aleppo, with a focus on women, children and the elderly; urges all parties to urgently provide the necessary authorisations for humanitarian aid deliveries and medical evacuations to proceed;

5.  Urges all participants in the International Syria Support Group to resume negotiations to facilitate the establishment of a stable truce and to intensify work for a lasting political settlement in Syria; fully supports the efforts made by UN Special Envoy Staffan de Mistura in this respect;

6.  Calls on the HR/VP to renew efforts towards a common EU Syria Strategy, which would aim at facilitating a political settlement in Syria, and include monitoring and enforcement tools to strength respect for agreements and obligations made within the International Syria Support Group;

7.  Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy/Vice-President of the Commission, the Council, the Commission, the governments and parliaments of the EU Member States, the United Nations, the members of the International Syria Support Group and all the parties involved in the conflict in Syria.