EU Parliament calls for ‘more pronounced role’ in Syria peace efforts

The European Parliament has called for Europe to have a “more pronounced role” in the efforts to reach a peace agreement in Syria. They also called on all parties to the conflict to stop all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure in the country.

During its regular session convened in Brussels, the parliament voted on a resolution in which the recent attacks on hospitals, humanitarian relief convoys and the Red Crescent warehouse near Aleppo were said to constitute possible war crimes. The resolution was passed with 508 votes in favour and 50 against; 56 MEPs abstained.

The parliament also called on all parties in Syria, especially Russia and the regime of Bashar Al-Assad, to “stop all attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure, including water and electrical infrastructure and to lift all sieges and to allow rapid, safe and unhindered access for humanitarian agencies to reach people in need.”

The MEPs said that the members of the International Syria Support Group should resume negotiations between the conflicting parties in Syria to reach a stable truce and permanent peace. The EU, they insisted, should play “a more pronounced role in mediating a peace deal in Syria.”