Syria/Counter-Terrorism: High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell participated at the ministerial meeting of the Global Coalition against Da'esh

On 28 June, High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell participated at the ministerial plenary meeting of the Global Coalition to Defeat Da’esh co-chaired by Italy’s Foreign Minister Luigi Di Maio and US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Rome. It was the first Coalition meeting in person in two years.

In his speech, High Representative/Vice-President Borrell reiterated the EU's commitment to the Coalition and the EU’s resolve to continue its humanitarian and stabilisation efforts in Iraq and Syria. While Da’esh no longer controls territory in Iraq and Syria, its threat remains. Stabilisation and reconstruction are key to counter resurgence of Da’esh in the region.

The growing influence of Da’esh in other areas, including in the Sahel and Mozambique, is a worrying trend. The EU is committed to keep up its civilian and military engagement in the African region in close coordination with existing initiatives, such as the Coalition for the Sahel. The High Representative welcomed the new Coalition members from the African continent and informed the Coalition about the ongoing efforts to launch an EU Common Security and Defence Policy mission for Mozambique.

High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell also participated in a ministerial meeting on Syria called by US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and Italian Foreign Minister Luigi di Maio. Participants strongly insisted on the need to renew and expand the UN Security Council’s authorisation for cross border deliveries to Syria as essential humanitarian lifeline for millions of Syrians. They also recalled the importance of a political solution to the Syria crisis in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and expressed strong support for UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen. The High Representative/Vice-President held a bilateral meeting with the Special Envoy in the margins of the meeting, where they discussed prospects for progress on Syria and reiterated the EU’s continued support to the people of Syria.

The EU plays a significant role in the search for a solution to the Syria conflict. The fifth Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region held in Brussels in March and co-chaired by the EU and the UN, mobilised €5.3 billion to address the needs engendered by the Syrian crisis for 2021 and beyond. 

The High Representative also held bilateral talks with the Foreign Minister of Kenya, Raychelle Omamo, the Foreign Minister of Morocco, Nasser Bourita, the Secretary of Foreign Affairs of the Philippines, Teddy Locsin, and the Foreign Minister of Saudi Arabia, Prince Faisal.