8 member states call on EU to review approach to Syria
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – Eight member states of the European Union (EU) on Monday called on the block to reassess its approach to the Syrian government after 13 years of the conflict.
Foreign ministers of Austria, Croatia, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Greece, Italy, Slovakia and Slovenia wrote in a letter to EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, calling for reassessing and reviewing the EU approach to the Syrian government.
This came ahead of a meeting of EU foreign ministers in Brussels on Monday that will discuss the Middle East.
“Our goal is a more active, outcome-driven, and operational Syria policy,” the foreign ministers of the eight abovementioned member states said the letter.
“This would allow us to increase our political leverage [and] the effectiveness of our humanitarian assistance,” they add.
They fixed the founding of an EU-Syria envoy, who would be tasked with re-engaging the Syrian ambassador to Brussels and liaising with both Syrian and regional actors.
Austria’s Minister of Foreign Affairs, Alexander Schallenberg, said, “After 13 years of war, we have to admit that our Syria policy has not aged well.”
“Bitter as it is, with the help of Iran and Russia, the Assad regime remains firmly in the saddle,” Schallenberg added. “The European Union cannot turn a blind eye to this reality any longer.”