Source: European Parliament
Question for written answer E-002750/2025
to the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy
Rule 144
Yannis Maniatis (S&D)
On Sunday 22 June 2025, a terrorist attack on the Greek Orthodox Church of the Prophet Elias in Damascus left 22 worshippers dead and many more injured. The jihadist past of Ahmed al-Sharaa, Syria’s president for the transitional period, as well as his previous relations with Al-Qaeda and ISIS remain a source of concern. This attack is not the first on Christian populations in Syria since the regime was overthrown last December.
Given that Syria has historically consisted of a mosaic of religious and ethnic communities, and bearing in mind that on 28 May 2025 the European Union lifted sanctions on Syria, but without this decision being – and nor can it be – considered as a ‘blank cheque’ for the new regime, will the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy say:
- 1.How does she ensure that the conditions set out, such as respect for international law and the protection of Syria’s religious and ethnic minorities, are complied with?
- 2.Has the European Union raised the issue of the new Syrian regime’s protection of ethnic and religious minorities? If so, in what manner?
- 3.What action will she take should it become apparent that the Syrian regime does not effectively protect ethnic and religious minorities?
Submitted: 6.7.2025