Source: European Parliament
The EU has been gravely alarmed by the violent incidents that have occurred in Syria over the past months and has strongly condemned the horrific crimes against civilians.
Such messages were voiced in a series of statements following the violence in March 2025 in the coastal region[1], the terrorist attack against Mar Elias Church[2], and the violence in Southern Syria[3].
The transitional authorities, together with local authorities, bear the responsibility to protect all Syrians without discrimination on the basis of ethnic and religious background or gender.
In May[4] and June[5] 2025, the EU introduced new listings against human rights violators. The EU also welcomed a recent United Nations Commission of Inquiry report[6] and has called for transparent, credible and impartial investigations, and for all perpetrators of grave violations of international humanitarian law and human rights law to be held accountable and brought to justice, including with the support of relevant international mechanisms.
The EU continues to call for an immediate end to violence across Syria and remains attentive to the actions of the transitional authorities in ensuring the protection of all Syrians.
In all constant interactions with the transitional authorities, the EU calls for accountability, inclusivity and respect for human rights, and for the full, equal and meaningful participation of all Syrians in all spheres of political life and society.
The EU believes that it is imperative to step up the dialogue and promote pluralism, tolerance and substantive civic participation across Syrian society, with a view to advancing a truly inclusive and peaceful, Syrian-led transition that guarantees human rights and fulfils the aspirations of all Syrians.
- [1] Syria: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the recent wave of violence, 11 March 2025. 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/.
- [2] Syria: Statement by the Spokesperson on the terrorist attack in Mar Elias church in Damascus, 23 June 2025. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/syria-statement-spokesperson-terrorist-attack-mar-elias-church-damascus_en.
- [3] Syria: Statement by the High Representative on behalf of the European Union on the violence in Suwayda, 24 July 2025. https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/press/press-releases/2025/07/24/syria-statement-by-the-high-representative-on-behalf-of-the-european-union-on-the-situation/.
- [4] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202501110.
- [5] https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=OJ:L_202501255.
- [6] Syria: Statement by the Spokesperson on the report of the Independent International Commission of Inquiry on Violations against civilians in Coastal and Western Central Syria in January — March 2025, 15 August 2025. https://www.eeas.europa.eu/eeas/syria-statement-spokesperson-report-independent-international-commission-inquiry-violations-against_en.