Skip to content
Adopted text

Recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the EEAS on the situation in Syria

TA-9-2024-0109 · P9_TA(2024)0109 · PE754.939

Official HTML ↗ PDF DOCX
✦ In shortFull text
✦ In short · AI summary of this text, generated 28 Sept 2026

Written by a language model from the full text only; every figure comes from the text. The paragraph links open the paragraph a statement rests on — check the text itself before relying on it.

Parliament's recommendation to the Council, the Commission and the EU foreign policy chief sets out what EU policy on Syria should be. It calls for no normalisation with the Assad regime unless UN Security Council Resolution 2254 is implemented, and for continued support for democratic aspirations. It asks for targeted sanctions with clear humanitarian exemptions, action against Captagon trafficking, and continued humanitarian aid and refugee protection, stressing that Syria is not a safe country for returns. It demands accountability for war crimes and torture through universal jurisdiction, and urges repatriation of European nationals and children from camps in north-east Syria.

Key points

  1. Reaffirm EU support for Syria's democratic aspirations and denounce contracts giving Russia and Iran access to the country's resources.
  2. Stress the regime's responsibility for civilian deaths, displacement, torture, forced disappearances and chemical weapons use.
  3. Oppose normalisation with the Assad regime unless UN Security Council Resolution 2254 is implemented, including release of political prisoners and information on missing persons.
  4. Keep EU sanctions targeted, ensure humanitarian exemptions, and address financial over-compliance that blocks aid groups.
  5. Support Syrian civil society, condemn religious discrimination, and protect the rights of Christians, Druze, Kurds, Alawites and other minorities.
  6. Deplore foreign bases and militias, condemn Turkish military operations and Russian and Syrian campaigns, and support the international coalition against ISIS.
  7. Urge Member States to repatriate their nationals and all European children from Al-Hol and Roj camps and to try them in fair trials.
  8. Step up efforts against Russian and Iranian disinformation about Syria, including in Arabic, and ensure online platforms do more.
  9. Welcome judicial progress against impunity, encourage universal jurisdiction, and call for specialised war crime units and a public prosecutor for crimes against humanity in each Member State.
  10. Urge automatic exchange of information on war criminals whose asylum claims are rejected, and call for a European fund for victims of serious violations in Syria.
  11. Urge the international community to increase humanitarian aid, insist on access to clean water, education and energy, and support local civil society and refugee-led organisations.
  12. Condemn Russia's vetoes on aid deliveries, urge keeping the Bab al-Hawa, Bab al-Salam and al-Rai crossings open for at least 12 months, and state that Syria is not a safe country for returns.

Who is affected

  • EU Member States, which should refrain from weakening the common EU position and implement universal jurisdiction.
  • Syrian refugees and asylum seekers, who should not be returned to Syria as it is not a safe country.
  • European children and nationals in Al-Hol and Roj camps, who should be repatriated.
  • Humanitarian organisations, which should receive clear sanctions exemptions and support.
  • Syrian civil society and human rights defenders, who should receive long-term support.

Figures and deadlines

  • 15,3 million people in Syria in need of humanitarian aid and protection.
  • At least 150 000 Syrians missing, of whom no fewer than 112 713 forcibly disappeared.
  • EU and Member States have contributed EUR 30 billion since 2011.
  • European aid pledged at the Brussels Conference in June 2023 amounts to EUR 3,8 billion out of a total of EUR 5,6 billion.
  • 12,4 million Syrians suffering from food insecurity, nearly 60 % of the population.
  • Captagon market estimated to be worth USD 57 billion.
  • Bab al-Hawa corridor access granted until 13 July 2024; Bab al-Salam and al-Rai previously renewed until 13 February 2024.
  • 438 000 Palestinian refugees estimated to be in Syria.