Source: European Parliament
The Assad regime’s fall has been a historic moment for the Syrian people. Throughout the conflict, including in the 2018 Council conclusions on Syria[1], the EU condemned the Assad regime’s brutal violations of international law and deliberate and indiscriminate attacks against civilians, including the use of chemical weapons. What was discovered since the fall of the regime only confirmed its brutality.
In this critical period, the EU supports an inclusive, peaceful, Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition built on the respect of international law and human rights. In this context, the EU has welcomed the interim authorities’ first positive steps towards an inclusive transition, such as the National Dialogue Conference, the Constitutional Declaration, and the formation of the new government. The EU is in contact with interim authorities and local actors, including civil society, to strongly advocate for tolerance and pluralism. The EU remains attentive to the actions of the new authorities in ensuring the protection of all Syrians, regardless of their background, notably ethnic or religious, and upholding the universality and indivisibility of human rights and the principles of equality and non-discrimination.
Gravely alarmed by the violence in Syria’s coastal region, on 11 March 2025, the High Representative/Vice-President issued a statement[2] on behalf of the EU strongly condemning the attacks by pro-Assad militias and the horrific crimes against civilians, including summary killings, many of which were allegedly perpetrated by armed groups supporting the transitional authorities. The EU called for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation to ensure that perpetrators are brought to justice, and welcomed the transitional authorities’ establishment of an independent investigative committee. Everything must be done to prevent any such crimes from happening again.