EU Commits Billions in Aid to Syria Amid Ongoing Human Rights Violations
The EU has pledged €2.5 billion in aid to Syria despite widespread atrocities against minorities by the new government. This was announced at the Ninth Brussels Conference, amid significant contributions from member states. The EU’s engagement continues despite the militant background of Syria’s new leadership and ongoing violence against Christians and other minorities.
The European Union (EU) has announced a financial commitment of €2.5 billion in aid to Syria, despite the reported massacre of thousands of Christians and other minority groups by militants linked to the newly formed government. This announcement came during the Ninth Brussels Conference on Syria, which concluded on March 17, 2023, with total pledges amounting to €5.8 billion intended for the war-torn country since the onset of its civil war in 2011.
In addition to the EU’s contribution, individual nations have made significant pledges, including €300 million from Germany and €190 million from the United Kingdom. Since 2017, the EU has hosted this annual conference, which this year occurred without the presence of Bashar al-Assad’s government, recently overthrown by the jihadist group Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS). Notably, the EU engaged with Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, the foreign minister of the new government.
While Kaja Kallas, the EU foreign affairs chief, labeled Assad’s regime a dictatorship, she neglected to address the serious human rights violations committed by the current authorities, merely stating that “it’s high time that all Syrians can live safely in peace.” Ursula von der Leyen, President of the European Commission, expressed hopes for a Syria built on equal rights for all citizens irrespective of their background, advocating for a nation devoid of sectarian violence.
In a contentious move, the EU has initiated the easing of energy, transport, and financial sanctions against Syria. Critics view this approach as either naïve or disingenuous, particularly given the ongoing atrocities attributed to HTS fighters, who have been responsible for the brutal killings of approximately 7,000 Christians and Alawites.
The new Syrian leadership includes figures with links to extremist groups, such as Ahmed al-Sharaa, who formerly led the Syrian branch of al-Qaeda, and Asaad Hassan al-Shibani, who previously oversaw the transformation of Al-Nusra Front into HTS, a group recognized as a terrorist organization by both the EU and the United Nations. Recent actions by the leftist-centrist majority in the European Parliament, which failed to denounce the violence perpetrated by government-associated militias, further underscore the complex political landscape surrounding Syria’s new regime.
The European Union’s recent commitment of €2.5 billion in aid to Syria, amidst violent human rights violations against Christians and minorities, signals a controversial approach to foreign assistance. Despite acknowledging the new regime’s troubling history and the involvement of extremist factions, EU leaders envision a future Syria characterized by equality and peace. However, skepticism remains regarding the effectiveness of such pledges in the context of ongoing violence and political complexities.
Original Source: europeanconservative.com
