The European Union will organise a third Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region in the last week of March 2019. This was announced on Wednesday by High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini during a high-level ministerial meeting on the Syria crisis, hosted by the EU in the margins of the 73rd UN General Assembly in New York and attended by a large number of foreign ministers and representatives of international NGOs.
“I am glad to announce our intention to host a third Brussels Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region in the last week of March next year, hoping that by then we will be in the condition to gather and to mobilise international and regional support for a political process that by then hopefully will be underway” said Federica Mogherini, who chaired the event, with Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides closing it.
“The Brussels II Conference last spring was crucial to raise humanitarian support for the Syrian people and we have already delivered on 95% of the pledges made. Next year, expect our Conference to be – hopefully, depending on the work that will happen or not under the UN auspices – more focused on the political support and on the support we can mobilise to accompany negotiations. But also, expect the Conference to be a Syrian week, providing the stage for the best parts of the Syrian society” she added.
“Protection is our number one challenge. This is particularly true in countries hosting more than 5.5 million Syrian refugee – they are the pillars of the humanitarian response. Without an inclusive, viable political solution, displacement and suffering will continue. Our top priority is to cover the pressing needs of 13 million affected people inside Syria. It is vital that we all remain at the forefront of the humanitarian response in Syria and it is essential that we all stay on the track of the Brussels Conferences in 2017 and 2018” said Commissioner Stylianides.
The European Union will continue mobilising all political and humanitarian tools at its disposal in support of the Syrian people, to finally reach a negotiated political solution and help create the conditions for a brighter future for all Syrians. The EU remains the leading donor for Syrians, with over €10.8 billion mobilised collectively in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation assistance for Syrians inside Syria and in neighbouring countries since the onset of the conflict.
