Today’s Brussels Conference, “Supporting the future of Syria and the Region”, must give an extra push to end violence in Syria, commit funds to help the country, give impetus to the political talks in Geneva and start preparing the post-conflict situation, High Representative Federica Mogherini said today.

“Enough of violence, enough of war – Syrians want peace and Syrians want to reconstruct their country in democracy and in freedom. And I think that today what we are doing is even more relevant, is even more important, is even more urgent,” Mogherini said before the conference, which she is hosting and co-chairing. “The images we have seen yesterday from Syria remind us all that here we have a responsibility to unite for real with a serious engagement the international community, the regional players, but also the Syrian parties to make peace.”

She said she hoped the conference would see billions of euros re-pledged and committed to help Syrians and the wider region, including Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq.

She also called for a strong push for the political talks in Geneva: “We will have the UN Secretary General [António Guterres] opening the conference with me today, we will have Staffan de Mistura [UN Special Envoy for Syria] – we have to unite the international community behind these negotiations and give them a serious push. Because only the Syrian parties can agree a political solution – can put an end to this war.”

“Third, we can start preparing the post-conflict. I know it sounds surreal, especially today, but if you want peace, you have to start building peace and the conditions for peace. And we will also look at the conditions under which the international community can contribute to reconstruct the country.”

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Press release

Remarks by Federica Mogherini and by António Guterres upon arrival to the Brussels Conference 

Council conclusions on Syria (03/04/2017)

Joint Communication to the European Parliament and the Council: Elements for an EU Strategy for Syria

“Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” Conference webpage

EEAS webpage on EU actions related to the Syria crisis.

Factsheet: The EU and the crisis in Syria