Sittings · Document

MOTION FOR A RESOLUTION (2025/2798(RSP)) 2025-07-07

On the urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria following the recent terrorist attack on Mar Elias Church in Damascus

on behalf of the ESN Group · Rapporteur: Tomasz Froelich, Petr Bystron, Alexander Sell, Marc Jongen

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✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 4 Sept 2026

This resolution condemns the terrorist attack on Christians at Mar Elias Church in Damascus and expresses concern about the systematic targeting of religious minorities in Syria. It insists that EU-Syria relations and financial assistance depend on visible progress in protecting religious minorities and cooperating on readmission of Syrian migrants.

Key points

  1. Strongly condemns the terrorist Jihadist attack on Christians in the Mar Elias Church.
  2. Worried that under the Syrian Transitional Government, Christian communities and other religious minorities are increasingly and systematically targeted by violent Islamist factions.
  3. Considers that the ideological and religious basis of violence is deeply entrenched and that groups in power emerged from transnational jihadist networks.
  4. Considers that the inaction of the Syrian regime against provocations and intimidations led to the attack.
  5. Worried that insecurity and fear will intensify the exodus of Christians from Syria, erasing one of the most ancient expressions of Christianity.
  6. Insists that treatment of religious minorities and cooperation on readmission of Syrian migrants are the litmus test for EU-Syria relations; financial assistance is conditional on visible progress.

Who is affected

  • Christians and other religious minorities in Syria, who face violence and intimidation.
  • The Syrian Transitional Government, which is urged to protect minorities and cooperate on readmission.
  • The EU and its member states, which must condition financial assistance on progress.

Figures and deadlines

  • At least 25 Christians killed in the attack on 22 June 2025.
  • Christian population fell from 30% in the 1920s to an estimated 2-3% now.
  • EU announced a EUR 175 million package on 4 June 2025.

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