Today, at the request of the S&D Group, the European Parliament will hold an urgent debate on the toppling of the Syrian regime and its implications.
For the S&D Group, the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s dictatorship — after thirteen years of brutal war that killed more than 500,000 people and displaced half of the Syrian population — marks a moment of relief and hope for the Syrian people. The opposition, led by the Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) rebel movement, is now in control. The S&Ds’ message to Syria’s new leaders is clear: all communities, including national and religious minorities, must have a voice in shaping Syria’s democratic future.
Yannis Maniatis, vice-president of the S&D Group for foreign affairs, security and defence said:
“Last week, the sudden fall of Assad, a dictator who bloodied Syria, surprised everyone and filled Syrian citizens with hope. We want a democratic, inclusive and open Syria, and not the replacement of a bloody regime with a new one. We must protect Syria’s rich religious tradition and ensure that all ethnic minorities, such as the Kurds, are equally involved in the discussions for the future. Years of civil war have left the country devastated. The European Union has not only an interest, but also the duty to be present in the region, to participate in the developments of the future in the area. The Eastern Mediterranean is our neighbourhood, it is our home and we cannot be absent.”
