The European Union will host, in Brussels, on 4-5 April, the “Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region”, co-chaired with the United Nations and with the governments of Germany, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar and the United Kingdom.

The conference, which will be held at ministerial level, will bring together over 70 countries, international organisations and civil society.

The conference will seek to: assess where the international community stands collectively in fulfilling commitments made at the London conference in February 2016, reconfirm existing pledges and identify additional support to Syrian inside Syria and in the neighbouring countries, as well as to the respective host communities; boost support for a lasting political resolution to the Syrian conflict through an inclusive and Syrian-led political transition process under the UN auspice, and consider the prospects for post-agreement assistance once a genuinely inclusive political transition is firmly underway.

Background:

The Brussels Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region builds on the London Conference on Supporting Syria and the region of 4 February 2016. One year ago, the international community convened in London under the leadership of the United Kingdom, Germany, Kuwait, Norway and the United Nations, reaffirming its solidarity with millions of vulnerable people living in Syria and Syrian refugees and affected host communities in the region, and building on the commitments made at the three previous pledging conferences in Kuwait from 2013-15.

At the London Conference, the donor community pledged significant financial support for humanitarian assistance and protection in Syria, as well as civilian stabilisation measures to strengthen resilience in host communities. It also reiterated that there can only be a political solution to the crisis, within the existing agreed UN framework and based on the Geneva Communiqué and UN Security Council Resolution 2254.

The London Conference concluded with commitments from both the international community and Syria's neighbours to meet the immediate and longer-term needs of those affected by the crisis, including further support for education and livelihood opportunities for Syrian refugees and host communities in Turkey, Lebanon, Jordan, Iraq and Egypt.

The event:

Thematic sessions will be held at the Residence Palace building on the 4th, from 8:30 until 19h. Proceedings on the 5th will take place at the Europa building, from 7:30 to 18h30. The full programme is available on the Conference website.

The sources:

Official website of the Conference

EEAS website informing on EU actions related to the Syria crisis.

Press release

Audiovisual channel