Eight member states, including Cyprus, have asked for the EU to review its strategy on Syria through a letter to High Representative Josep Borrell, pointing to changed realities on the ground, the need to increase the efficiency of humanitarian help, but also to achieve “the conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified returns of Syrian refugees in accordance with UNHCR standards.”

The letter, seen by the CNA, was sent on 15 July 2024, ahead of Monday’s Foreign Affairs Council. It is signed by Austria, Cyprus, Czechia, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia.

The eight countries point out in the letter that the Syrian conflict has been ongoing for 13 years “causing unprecedented human suffering” and leading to “the world’s largest displacement crisis” bringing record levels of Syrian refugees in neighbouring countries and in Europe.

The letter points out that the EU’s current strategy dates to 2017 and that since then “the situation on the ground in Syria and around has changed significantly”, since the regime has regained control of around 70% of the country’s territory, while the areas outside its control also consolidated.

Also, while the UN – led political process has regrettably not advanced, Syria was readmitted into the League of Arab States and normalized bilateral relations with major players like Saudi Arabia “creating a new regional dynamic”.

Meanwhile, “the humanitarian situation in the country has further deteriorated and the economy is in shambles”, while large numbers of Syrians  are leaving, “putting additional strain on neighbouring countries, in a period when tension in the area is running high, risking new refugee waves.”

Despite these developments, the letter points out, “EU policy towards Syria has not evolved, with the result that the huge humanitarian effort carried out is not translated in a correspondent political role”.

The member states therefore ask for reviewing and assessing “the Strategy’s results achieved so far”, “the effectiveness of our actions and instruments” and “options to adjust our approach, based on the changed realities in and around Syria.”

The goal of this proposal would be to arrive at a “more active, outcome-driven, and operational Syria policy” which “would allow us to increase our political leverage, the effectiveness of our humanitarian assistance and early recovery approach, and contribute to achieving the conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified returns of Syrian refugees in accordance with UNHCR standards.”

The eight member states point out that they will present a non paper to be discussed in the Political and Security Committee, and ask Borrell to task the EEAS with preparing an assessment of the points outlined for further discussions at the level of Ministers of Foreign Affairs.