The fall of the Assad regime marks a historic moment and an opportunity for the Syrian people to decide the future of their country.  In this critical period, the EU stands with the Syrian people, both within Syria and across the region. Since the beginning of the conflict in 2011, the EU and its Member States have been the largest humanitarian donor to Syrians and have mobilized over EUR 35.3 billion to help Syria and its neighbouring countries address the consequences of the war. At the recent 9th Brussels Conference on “Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition”, the EU gathered key regional and international partners together with the Syrian Arab Republic. On that occasion, we reaffirmed our support for a peaceful, inclusive Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition, where both domestic and international affairs are conducted in full respect of international law, and with justice, reconciliation, and reconstruction as fundamental elements.

The EU and its Member States will thus remain at the forefront of the fight against impunity in Syria, supporting efforts to gather and preserve evidence of atrocities, regardless of who may have committed them. We will continue to support the Mechanism, as well as the work of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry, and the OPCW Investigation and Identification Team, and welcome the cooperation among all these complementary actors. We also support the Independent Institution on Missing Persons in Syria. In conclusion, this critical moment for Syria requires unwavering international support for accountability and justice mechanisms. The IIIM’s mandate has never been more important; we must ensure it has the resources and cooperation necessary to fulfil its vital role in laying the foundation for comprehensive accountability.