Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Union is hosting the ninth Brussels Conference today, Monday, entitled "Standing with Syria: Meeting the Needs for a Successful Transition," which begins at 3:00 PM. In the afternoon, according to Belgian time, following the conclusion of the meetings of the foreign ministers of the member states of the European Union, which will begin the same morning, according to what was announced by the institutions of the European Union in Brussels regarding this conference. A collective breakfast will be organized for the delegations participating in the conference in the evening after the conclusion of the conference. The federal institutions in Brussels stated, "The fall of the Assad regime represents a historic moment and an opportunity for the Syrian people to determine the future of their country. In this critical period, the European Union stands with the Syrian people, both inside Syria and across the region, and will continue to support an inclusive, Syrian-led, and Syrian-owned transition process, help meet humanitarian needs, and contribute to economic recovery, reconstruction, and stabilization efforts to build a free, peaceful, and prosperous Syria.
Among the primary objectives of the Brussels conference are to mobilize international support for an inclusive and peaceful transition, obtain pledges of humanitarian and non-humanitarian assistance, and ensure sustainable support for Syrians—both inside the country and in host communities across the region, particularly Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey, Egypt, and Iraq.
The European Union will also support a civil society event later this year in Damascus, to strengthen long-term engagement.
The European Union remains steadfast in its support for Syria and all its citizens, standing by them to build a free, peaceful, and prosperous future.
The conference discussions will begin with an opening session at 3:00 PM, including a closed ministerial debate. The first plenary session will be followed by the second session, followed by the final statement. A collective Ramadan iftar will be held for the participating delegations. It is anticipated that Syrian Foreign Minister Asaad al-Sheibani will participate in the conference, marking the first time he has participated in high-level European and international meetings since the country's interim government, led by Ahmed al-Sharaa, took over following the fall of Bashar al-Assad's regime. The conference and its discussions will be an opportunity for the Syrian minister to brief participants on the latest developments in Syria, particularly the recent violence and killings that have taken place in the country, particularly in coastal areas.