During the plenary session (10-13 February 2020) of the European Parliament in Strasbourg, MEPs debate with Josep BORRELL, EU Foreign Policy Chief, on the security situation in Syria. Statements by Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, Michaela ŠOJDROVÁ (EPP, CZ), Kati PIRI (S&D, NL) and Hannah NEUMANN (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

EU - Syria (T)

debate

plenary session

ŠOJDROVÁ, Michaela (EPP, CZ)

PIRI, Kati (S&D, NL)

BORRELL FONTELLES, Josep (PSE, ES, EC)

NEUMANN, Hannah (Greens/EFA, DE)

Current security situation in Syria: extracts from the debate

Title: Current security situation in Syria: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, The war in Syria is now in its ninth year. The most severe humanitarian catastrophe and security crisis is unfolding right now in the Northwest of the country, and in other parts of Syria we continue to see instability and dramatic human suffering. Last Thursday, we heard the United Nations special envoy Pedersen and head of the OCHA, Mark Lowcock briefing the United Nations Security Council on the situation in Idlib. They described how regime forces, aided by Russia and Iran are launching heavy military offensives with no regard for the civilian population or civilian infrastructures.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, Too many people have died and those that are alive face a bleak future. The EU has major stakes in Syria and in the surrounding region. We cannot afford more regional instability and another migrant crisis. We must avoid a resurgence of Daesh and other terrorist organizations at Europe's doorsteps. The EU has a duty to preserve the rules-based international order, including the legitimacy of the United Nations Security Council. Yes, I know, we say that once and again. We have to continue saying that. Recent military gains by the Syrian regime are not translating into stability.

SOUNDBITE (English), Josep BORRELL FONTELLES, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the EC in charge of a stronger Europe in the World, We will continue to apply the European Union sanctions targeting individuals and entities associated with the regime and responsible for its repressive and inhuman policies, and not to the Syrian people. As I said before, the conflict in Syria is a geopolitical struggle. European Union has a responsibility to lead, for the sake of the Syrian people and to protect our own interest, while difficult, we must redouble our efforts to identify common interests with the other international stakeholders: Russia, US, Turkey and others.

SOUNDBITE (Czech), Michaela &#352;OJDROV&#193; (EPP, CZ), People are now fleeing from Assad's troops. They are trying to cross the border, but it is impossible to cross the border because the border has been sealed and humanitarian organizations have said that there are millions of people waiting to flee. The European Union must provide some sort of humanitarian aid to these individuals. And I call for projects to be conducted in the conflict regions in situ there.

SOUNDBITE (English), Kati PIRI (S&amp;D, NL), There is no security for the millions of civilians, first boosted into the province and now besieged, bombed and starved in Idlib. There is only despair, destruction and death for the injured in the 68 attacked hospitals, for the 373 killed, for the 700000 refugees stuck in the freezing mud with no place to go, no clothes and no food. Once again, the Syrian regime and its Russian and Iranian backers are using their inhumane tactics. By explicitly targeting civilians and hospitals, they act in direct violation of humanity. Colleagues, I hope one day soon we will see Bashar al-Assad in my city, The Hague. So some justice can at least be done to the suffering of millions of Syrians.

SOUNDBITE (German), Hannah NEUMANN (Greens/EFA, DE), Three million people are locked in a proxy war in the region. Schools, hospitals are being bombed. What is taking place in Idlib is simply the law of horror that we see prevailing there. We have to do something. All diplomacy efforts have to be made in order to call for a ceasefire and also Russia and Turkey must play their role. We have to protect as well the weakest and the most vulnerable people.