ERBIL, Kurdistan Region - The European Union on Monday welcomed the formation of Syria’s new transitional government and expressed “steadfast readiness” to cooperate with it, while urging the new Damascus leadership to uphold commitments of a “a peaceful and inclusive transition."
The EU “is ready to engage with the new government in order to help tackle the immense challenges ahead,” read a statement from the EU External Action Service, stressing that “the aspirations of all Syrians must be fulfilled.” It reaffirmed its support for the Syrian people, “while making sure that the commitments of the new government towards a peaceful and inclusive transition are respected.”
Additionally, the EU voiced steadfast support “for a Syrian-led and Syrian-owned transition process, peaceful, inclusive of all components of Syrian society in their diversity, where comprehensive transitional justice ensures accountability for all crimes and meaningfully contributes to national reconciliation.”
On Saturday, Syria’s interim President Ahmed al-Sharaa appointed a 23-member cabinet, including four members from minority groups. However, the appointments have raised concerns as ethnic and religious groups said they were not consulted during the appointment process. The new cabinet also includes individuals who have been blacklisted by the UN and the US over ties to extremist armed groups.
The EU remarks come days after German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock told Rudaw in an exclusive interview on Wednesday, that Germany and Europe “are ready to help them [new leadership in Damascus] lift sanctions for reconstruction, but there must be a political process in which all parties and all actors participate,” Baerbock said.
The remarks came after the EU in mid-March pledged around $2.7 billion in aid for Syria to help address the country’s humanitarian crisis caused by years of war. Germany then pledged around $327 million to UN agencies and select organizations to assist Syria, while the UK pledged $200 million to provide food, healthcare, and education.
Prior to that, in late February, the EU had suspended sectoral measures targeting Syria’s energy and transport sectors and removed key banking and finance entities from its sanctions list. It stated that the measures aim “to facilitate engagement with Syria” in key areas, as well as transactions essential for “humanitarian and reconstruction purposes.”
The EU also underscored that it would “closely monitor the situation” in Syria and stressed that “any [new] government formed must be inclusive, encompassing the [country’s] various [ethnic and religious] groups.” It warned that if the new Damascus leadership “does not head in the right direction, we are ready to reimpose the waivered sanctions.”
