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Strasbourg, 17 October 2023

European Parliament Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT), said:

"I am closely following the current critical situation in the Middle East region, after Hamas' inhumane terrorist attacks against Israel and the Israeli military response in the Gaza Strip. The grave escalation of violence we have been witnessing since last week could have serious repercussions on the neighbouring countries and on the whole region.

The massive evacuation of 1.1 million Palestinians of Northern Gaza is already increasing the devastating humanitarian situation on the ground as the UN has stressed. Moreover, it could create additional pressure at the Rafah border crossing while it seems that Egypt and Jordan reject talks of mass relocation of Palestinians from Gaza war.

I am also very alarmed by the ongoing cross-border strikes between Hezbollah's forces and Israel, which could involve Lebanon in the conflict. Additionally, the Israeli strikes reported on Syrian airport facilities, are very concerning.

I call on EU institutions to enhance the diplomatic outreach to parties in and outside the region in order to stop the escalation of violence, coordinate action for the cessation of military operations and use all the necessary influence to obtain the release of hostages detained by Hamas.

I welcome the recent announcement from the Commission to increase the current humanitarian aid envelope foreseen for Gaza by 50 million euros and to launch a humanitarian air corridor to Gaza through Egypt. It is essential that safe and unrestricted access to humanitarian aid is ensured.

We need to avoid the expansion of the conflict and to focus on sparing civilian lives, easing humanitarian suffering and ensure the fully respect for the international law".

Beirut, 22 June 2023

The European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries conducted an official visit to Lebanon from 19 to 23 June 2023, led by the Chair Isabel SANTOS (S&D, Portugal) who was accompanied by Domènec RUIZ DEVESA (S&D, Spain), Andrus ANSIP (Renew, Estonia), Mounir SATOURI (Greens/EFA/France), Marisa MATIAS (The Left, Portugal).

The Delegation's main objectives with this mission were to hold the 16th Inter-parliamentary Meeting with the Lebanese counterparts in difficult times for Lebanon, as well as to assess the current critical situation of the country with various meetings with key members of the Lebanese executive, representatives of civil society and field visits.

The EP delegation and its Lebanese counterparts had the opportunity to reconfirm the solid partnership and their political will to further strengthen cooperation and parliamentary ties between the two institutions while focusing on political, institutional, social and economic matters and discussing the situation of refugees in the country.

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We must continue to stand with the Syrian people in order to keep alive their hope for building a new and better future for their country

16 June 2023

The Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT), said:

"This year marks the twelfth anniversary of the Syrian crisis and the seventh Brussels Conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region'.

I acknowledge that keeping the Syrian crisis on the agenda of the EU and the international community after all these years, remains a challenging task. Therefore, I am glad to see that the seventh Brussels Conference gathered a very important number of key actors from the region, from Europe and beyond.

Furthermore, this year the Conference took place at the European Parliament's premises and for our Delegation this has a strong symbolic message. The Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries is strongly committed to maintain the same level of engagement in supporting the Syrian people and those countries of the region, affected by the ongoing Syrian crisis.

I warmly welcome the pledge of €5.6 billion for 2023 and beyond made by the international community from which €3.8 billion of grants were pledged by the EU (€2.1 billion from the European Commission and €1.7 billion by the EU Member States) for the benefit of people inside Syria and the neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees.

Although it is disheartening to witness the continuous suffering in Syria, where millions of people are in need of humanitarian assistance it is reassuring to see the international community continue to come together to show their commitment and support for the Syrian people. We should not forget that the devastating earthquake of last February has brought additional misery to a population which has already been facing severe humanitarian needs as a result of an over a decade long civil war.

I reiterate our support for a credible and viable political solution to the Syrian conflict in accordance with full and comprehensive implementation of UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The regime of Bashar Al-Assad must come to the negotiating table and show a clear commitment to resolving the conflict in a democratic and politically inclusive way".

Commending the remarkable efforts of the Conference, MEPs stress that for sustainable recovery, public aid needs to be complemented by international and local private investments.

Following the International Donors' Conference 'Together for the people in Türkiye and Syria', held on 20 March in Brussels, and the decision to pledge seven billion Euro for the recovery and relief response after the devastating earthquakes, seven leading MEPs issued this joint statement :

"Our resolve to support the people in Türkiye and Syria after the devastating earthquakes in February 2023 remains undiminished. In the immediate aftermath, the European Union demonstrated true solidarity by activating the civil protection mechanism to send rescue teams and urgently needed humanitarian aid. The Donors' Conference was a clear proof of the EU's determination to continue extending a helping hand during the lengthy recovery process.

We commend the remarkable efforts of the European Commission and the Swedish Council Presidency at mobilising a total of seven billion Euro together with international donors. However, given the sheer scale of destruction, we highlight that the new pledges given at this Conference can only be a beginning and urge EU Member States, governments around the world, and all international stakeholders to step up their financial support even further. In order to meet the long-term needs of the people in Türkiye and Syria, public aid needs to be complemented by both international and local private investments to enable comprehensive and sustainable rehabilitation efforts.

All financial support needs to be channelled through trusted partners and disbursed in the most transparent and accountable way. Humanitarian aid should be provided solely on the basis of need and be guided by humanitarian principles. All contributions and efforts have to be sustainable, socially just, safe and aimed at maintaining existent demographic structures.

The difficult humanitarian situation in affected regions in Türkiye, and in particular Northern Syria, which is facing severe humanitarian needs as a result of an over a decade long civil war, requires unrestricted access and a speedy and efficient delivery of humanitarian assistance in support of vulnerable populations affected by the devastating earthquakes. Our solidarity with the people in Türkiye and Syria affected by the disaster is unwavering, and will remain at the core of our actions towards these countries."

In a joint statement, leading MEPs express their condolences with the many victims and their families, and support the immediate response of the European Union.

The Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister (EPP, DE), the Chair of the Committee on Development, Tomas Tobé (EPP, SV), and the Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel Santos (S&D, PT), said:

"We are deeply saddened by the loss of life and the terrible devastation caused by the powerful earthquake (7.8 magnitude) in southern Türkiye and northern Syria on Monday, killing thousands of people. Our thoughts and condolences are with the many victims and their families.

We applaud and support the immediate response of the European Union, which has mobilised search and rescue teams for Türkiye, following the government's request for the activation of the EU Civil Protection Mechanism and the activation of the EU's Copernicus satellite system to provide emergency mapping services.

Aware of the years-long critical humanitarian situation in northern Syria, we stand ready to back further EU action to support the people affected, particularly through the provision of EU humanitarian aid."

For further information, please contact:

Office of Mr David McAllister, tel. +32 2 284 51 30, e-mail: david.mcallister@europarl.europa.eu

Office of Mr Tomas Tobé, tel. +32 2 284 55 57, e-mail: tomas.tobe@europarl.europa.eu

Office of Ms Isabel Santos, tel. +32 2 284 52 31, e-mail: isabel.santos @ep.europa.eu

The Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister (EPP, DE), the Chair of the Committee on Development, Tomas Tobé (EPP, SV), and the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel Santos (S&D, PT) warmly welcome the decision by the United Nations Security Council on 9 January, to extend for six months the authorisation for the United Nations to use the crossing point of Bab al-Hawa from Türkiye to Syria for humanitarian deliveries.

The European Parliament with its resolutions has always supported the renewal of the cross-border resolution in order to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis and ensure the expansion and support for cross-line interventions carried out in line with humanitarian principles. This renewal was imperative, since according to the United Nations 4,1 million people are in need of assistance through this humanitarian corridor, including close to 2 million internally displaced people living in extremely difficult conditions. The population is also subject to occasional bombardments creating even more challenges to the people living in these areas.

While the conflict in Syria has not been resolved, the European Parliament will continue to closely monitor the critical situation and humanitarian hardship experienced by millions of Syrians in north-west Syria and oppose any attempt to limit humanitarian access for political purposes.

Brussels, 14 July 2022

The Chair of the European Parliament's Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT), said:

"I strongly salute the decision by the United Nations Security Council on 12 July to extend the use of the Bab al-Hawa border crossing into Syria's north-west for the delivery of humanitarian aid. At a time when the humanitarian situation in Syria is at its most desperate, this aid provides a vital lifeline for more than 4 million Syrians living in north-west Syria. This vote by the Security Council has prevented a potential large-scale humanitarian disaster by allowing international organisations to continue their life-saving work. I urge the members of the Security Council to renew the resolution for another six months in December.

The European Parliament will continue to advocate for the people in north-west Syria and will oppose any attempt to limit humanitarian access for political purposes. To end suffering in Syria, an inclusive and sustainable solution to the Syrian conflict is urgently needed. We will not abandon the Syrian people."

Background

The United Nations Security Council's decision to extend the use of the Bab al-Hawa humanitarian aid corridor preserves a critical lifeline for more than four million Syrians.

"The Bab al-Hawa humanitarian aid corridor must remain open and the delivery of humanitarian aid must not be politicised. We cannot abandon the Syrian people", say leading MEPs.

Ahead of the UN Security Council vote on the renewal of the Bab al-Hawa humanitarian aid corridor into north-west Syria on 10 July, the Chair of the Committee on Foreign Affairs, David McAllister (EPP, Germany), the Chair of the Committee on Development, Tomas Tobé (EPP, Sweden), the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel Santos (S&D, Portugal), the Committee on Foreign Affairs' Standing Rapporteur on Syria, Nathalie Loiseau (Renew Europe, France) and the Committee on Development's Standing Rapporteur on Humanitarian Aid, Mónica Silvana González (S&D, Spain) said:

"The humanitarian corridor of Bab al-Hawa is a major lifeline for the 4.4 million Syrians living in north-west Syria, and we urge the members of the UN Security Council to renew the cross-border aid resolution in the upcoming vote on 10 July 2022. In order to avoid a major humanitarian crisis in the region, it is vital that humanitarian aid to civilians is allowed to continue.

Last year, in March 2021, the European Parliament adopted a resolution calling for the 'renewal of the cross-border resolution in order to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis'. Now, we are reiterating this call and asking for another renewal. We also call on the European Union to condemn and vigorously oppose any attempt, by any party, to politicise the delivery of aid to the Syrian people.

The humanitarian crisis in Syria is at its most dire and the need for humanitarian assistance is at its highest since the start of the war more than 11 years ago. In north-west Syria, more that 90 % of the population is dependent on aid and more than 60 % are internally displaced, with 1.7 million of them living in camps. At this moment, 4.4 million Syrians in north-west Syria depend on the cross-border delivery of humanitarian assistance for their daily survival. The provision of aid through the Bab al-Hawa crossing is therefore vital if we are to prevent a large-scale humanitarian catastrophe."

Background

On 10 July 2022 the UN Security Council will vote on extending the exceptional authorisation for humanitarian aid delivery through the last remaining border crossing into north-west Syria at Bab al-Hawa. At a Security Council meeting on 20 June 2022, UN Secretary-General António Guterres urged the Security Council to extend the resolution that allows cross-border deliveries of lifesaving aid into north-west Syria for another 12 months. According to UN OCHA, "The Government of Syria is notified in advance of each shipment and a UN monitoring mechanism was established to oversee loading in neighbouring countries, including to confirm the humanitarian nature of consignments".

On 11 March 2021 the European Parliament adopted a resolution on the Syrian conflict - 10 years after the uprising in which it condemned the actions of those UNSC members that have sought to limit humanitarian access for political purposes; and urged all UNSC members to support the renewal of the cross-border resolution in order to avoid a worsening humanitarian crisis and to ensure the expansion and support for cross-line interventions carried out in line with humanitarian principles.

20 January 2022

Following the statements by the International Support Group for Lebanon, and the Delegation of the European Union together with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States in Lebanon, the Chair of the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries, Isabel SANTOS (S&D, PT) said:

"My colleagues and I wholeheartedly endorse the statement issued on 19 January by the International Support Group for Lebanon as well as that by the Delegation of the European Union together with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States in Lebanon, calling on Lebanese authorities to restore their decision-making capabilities by reconvening the Council of Ministers.

The European Parliament in September 2021 urged Lebanese leaders to keep their promises to the people of Lebanon and be a functional government that is mission-driven, credible and accountable; that leaves parliamentary divisions aside and that is free from foreign influence. This message was reinforced in November 2021 when the Delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries travelled to Beirut to hold meetings with the highest levels of representation of the Lebanese Government and the National Assembly. During these meetings, the Delegation also stressed the need to progress with IMF negotiations and reforms as quickly as possible, to maintain elections as planned, and to fully staff and fund the Supervisory Committee on Elections. The Delegation also called for justice and accountability, and respect for independence of the judiciary.

The European Parliament stands by the Lebanese people and continues to closely monitor developments in Lebanon."

Background

On 19 January 2022, the International Support Group for Lebanon as well as the Delegation of the European Union together with the diplomatic missions of the EU Member States in Lebanon issued statements on the situation in Lebanon calling on Lebanese authorities to restore their decision-making capabilities by reconvening the Council of Ministers. This follows months of inaction during which the Council of Ministers has been suspended, thus preventing the government from taking action to address the multiple and dramatic crises Lebanon is facing.