International law and the situation in Syria
23.3.2022
Question for written answer E-001190/2022
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 138
Athanasios Konstantinou (NI)
While peace has returned to large parts of Syria, a small area in the north-east on the left bank of the Euphrates remains under US military control, for the ostensible purpose of protecting the local Kurdish population from what we believe to be a risk of arbitrary encroachments by Turkey. However, the local oil fields that are exploited by the US are doubtless a major consideration. Syrian oil is transported in tankers escorted by US army vehicles to military bases in Northern Iraq. According to reliable sources, the oil is transported from the Al-Jazira Province over the illegal Al-Waleed border crossing situated in the Al-Hasakah region of Syria.
In the light of this:
- 1.Can the VP/HR say what view is taken by the EU of US operations in this area, which are apparently being carried out without the consent of the Syrian Government and in breach of international law and the UN Charter?
- 2.Will the EU, which repeatedly adopts resolutions on regions outside the European continent and its nearby regions, now take the initiative regarding the Middle East, which falls within its geopolitical radius?