“I am appalled by the report of the UN Human Rights Council commission of inquiry, which depicts Syria in the grip of civil war. The most brutal human rights violations such as murder, torture, sexual violence and expulsions are a daily reality. A large number of children, including very young children, are among the victims.

The ongoing violence in Syria must be thoroughly investigated. That the chair of the commission of inquiry was able to visit the country for the first time from 23 to 25 June is a start. I call on the Syrian Government to cooperate at last with the whole commission.

We will continue to press energetically for an end to the violence in Syria. On Monday the EU stepped up the sanctions against the Syrian regime. The German Government is pushing for the sanctions to be universally respected. This would put the regime under even greater pressure to accept a peaceful solution to the conflict.

I call on the regime in Damascus to end the violence immediately!”