Options for ending the war in Syria
Ways and means to help end the war in Syria, the worst humanitarian crisis since WW II, will be debated with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini on Tuesday. A resolution will be voted on Thursday.
The future of the Bashar al-Assad regime, the challenges to UN-led peace talks, national reconciliation and a credible political transition are among the issues MEPs are likely to address with Ms Mogherini.
The EU is a leading donor in the response to the Syria crisis with over € 9.4 billion in humanitarian and economic aid, including life-saving emergency operations, providing safe drinking water, sanitation, shelter and food to refugees in Syria and in neighbouring countries, such as Lebanon, Jordan, Egypt and Turkey.
Quick facts
In March 2017, EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini presented a “joint communication” on an EU strategy for Syria, which seeks to define the EU’s potential contribution to ensuring a lasting political solution to the conflict in Syria under the existing UN-agreed framework, to help build stability and to support reconstruction once a credible political transition is underway.
Since 2011, the conflict in Syria has cost almost half a million lives and over 11 million Syrians have been forced to flee their homes.
Debate: Tuesday, 16 May
Vote: Thursday, 18 May
Procedure: High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Statement with resolution
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