Answer to a written question – Religious persecution and sectarian violence in Syria – E-001081/2025(ASW)

Since 2011, the EU and its Member States have mobilised nearly EUR 7 billion in humanitarian aid in response to the Syrian crisis. EU humanitarian aid in Syria seeks to respond to life-saving emergencies such as health, protection, shelter, and strictly adheres to the humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, neutrality and independence , as outlined in the EU Treaties and the European Consensus on Humanitarian Aid[1]. The EU provides humanitarian aid to all people in need in Syria, without 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 horrific crimes committed against civilians, many of which were allegedly perpetrated by armed groups supporting the security forces of the transitional authorities. The EU called for a swift, transparent and impartial investigation to be conducted to ensure perpetrators are brought to justice. It welcomed the transitional authorities’ commitments, in particular the establishment of an investigative committee. It further called on them to allow the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic to investigate all violations. Everything must be done to prevent any such crimes from happening again.

The EU remains attentive to the actions of the new authorities in ensuring the protection of all Syrians without any kind of discrimination and continues to call for an inclusive, peaceful, Syrian-owned and Syrian-led political transition grounded on international law and upholding the universality and indivisibility of human rights and the principles of equality and non-discrimination.

• [1] See Joint Statement by the Council and the Representatives of the Governments of the Member States meeting within the Council, the European Parliament and the European Commission, OJ C 25, 30.1.2008, p. 1-12, https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A42008X0130%2801%29.
• [2] https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/03/11/syria-statement-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-recent-wave-of-violence/.