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DRAFT REPORT (2023/2052(INI))

On the European Parliament recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy on the situation in Syria

AFET-PR-754939

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Nathalie Loiseau

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This is a draft report by the Committee on Foreign Affairs recommending what the Council, the Commission and the EU foreign policy chief should do on Syria. It asks them to oppose normalising relations with the Assad regime without progress on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, including releasing political prisoners and telling families the fate of the missing. It calls for humanitarian sanctions exemptions, more aid at the 2024 Brussels Conference, and continued repatriation and prosecution of jihadist camp detainees. It urges action against impunity: a European fund for victims, a public prosecutor for crimes against humanity in each member state, and automatic exchange of information on war criminals. It says Syria is not a safe country for the return of refugees and condemns the regime's diversion of aid and Russia's vetoes on cross-border deliveries.

Committee position. The rapporteur proposes that Parliament recommend to the Council, the Commission and the EU foreign policy chief a set of actions on Syria covering the political process, security, the fight against impunity, and humanitarian aid and refugees.

Key points

  1. Reaffirms EU support for Syria's democratic aspirations and stresses the regime's responsibility for deaths, displacement, torture, disappearances and chemical weapons use.
  2. Opposes any normalisation with the Assad regime without verifiable progress on UN Security Council Resolution 2254, including releasing political prisoners and informing families of the missing.
  3. Condemns the Assad family's and Hezbollah's hold on the drug Captagon, estimated at USD 57 billion, and says sanctions are not the cause of Syria's economic situation.
  4. Asks for swift, broad humanitarian exemptions, harmonised application by member states of the Syria sanctions regulation, and application of UN Security Council Resolution 2664 (2022).
  5. Deplores Iranian and Russian bases and militias, condemns Turkish attacks and occupation in the north, and supports the international coalition against the Islamic State.
  6. Stresses the role of the Syrian Democratic Forces against Daesh and urges member states to keep repatriating their nationals from the Al-Hol and Roj camps and try them.
  7. Calls for stepping up efforts against Russian disinformation about Syria, including in Arabic.
  8. Welcomes judicial progress on the César report's 11 000 identified torture victims, Syria's suspension from the chemical weapons watchdog, and cases in Germany, France and Sweden.
  9. Urges automatic exchange between member states on war criminals whose asylum applications are rejected under Article 1(F) of the Refugee Convention.
  10. Calls for pooled judicial expertise and interpreters, a public prosecutor for crimes against humanity in each member state, and European scholarships for Syrians seeking legal training.
  11. Calls for a European fund for victims of crimes against humanity in Syria, using frozen assets linked to property unlawfully acquired by the regime.
  12. Invites the international community to increase aid at the 2024 Brussels Conference for 15.3 million Syrians, insists on water, education and budget support for women, and condemns aid diversion and Russia's vetoes.

Who is affected

  • The Council, the Commission and the EU foreign policy chief, who are asked to act on political process, security, impunity and aid.
  • Member states, asked to harmonise sanctions interpretation, repatriate nationals, exchange information and appoint prosecutors.
  • Syrian refugees, whom the text says cannot be returned to Syria as it is not a safe country.
  • International humanitarian organisations, which should receive swift and broad sanctions exemptions.
  • The international community, invited to increase humanitarian assistance at the 2024 Brussels Conference.

Figures and deadlines

  • half a million Syrians have died since 2011
  • 14 million have been displaced
  • at least 150 000 Syrians are missing in the regime's concentration-camp system
  • assets of 289 individuals and 70 entities are subject to European sanctions
  • EU and member states have contributed EUR 30 billion since 2011
  • European aid pledged at the June 2023 Brussels Conference amounts to EUR 3.8 billion out of EUR 5.6 billion
  • Captagon trade estimated to be worth USD 57 billion
  • 15.3 million Syrians depend on humanitarian aid daily; 6 million refugees hosted by Lebanon, Jordan, Türkiye and Iraq