"We have already had exchanges with the new UN Special Envoy for Syria [Geir Pedersen] on how to use this conference not only for a humanitarian pledge that we want to keep as high as possible on the international and European agenda, but also for defining how we can support a political transition in Syria and the UN role in this respect," said the HRVP.

The overarching objective of the Brussels Syria Conferencesis to support the Syrian people and further mobilise the international community behind the work to achieve a lasting political solution to the Syria crisis, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

Like the two previous editions, Brussels III will also address the most critical humanitarian and resilience issues affecting Syrians and communities hosting Syrian refugees, both inside the country and in the region. It will also reaffirm the international community’s political and financial support for Syria's neighbours, notably Lebanon, Jordan, and Turkey, as well as Iraq and Egypt. Brussels III will be the main pledging event for Syria and the region in 2019.

The Conference will provide even greater space than previous editions for Syrian, regional and international NGOs and civil society organisations.