Council conclusions on the regional impact of the Syria crisis (18 November 2013)

COUNCIL OF

THE EUROPEAN UNION

Brussels, 18 November 2013

16194/13

SY 18

COMAG 114

COHAFA 126

PESC 1369

OUTCOME OF PROCEEDINGS

From:

Council

On:

18 November 2013

No. prev. doc.: 16123/13 SY 17 COMAG 108 COHAFA 125 PESC 1360

Subject:

Council conclusions on the regional impact of the Syria crisis

Delegations will find attached the Council conclusions on the regional impact of the Syria crisis, as

adopted by the Council on 18 November 2013.

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COUNCIL CONCLUSIONS

ON THE REGIONAL IMPACT OF THE SYRIA CRISIS

1.

The EU reiterates its grave concern for the humanitarian, social, economic, political and

security impact of the Syrian crisis on the entire region, especially Lebanon and Jordan. The

EU is mindful of the unprecedented effects the crisis has on the stability of the neighbouring

countries as well as on their natural and economic resources, educational systems, health care

and labour markets.

2.

The EU is gravely concerned with the fact that 9.3 million Syrians within Syria are in dire

need of external assistance. In particular, it reiterates its concern for the fate of 6.5 million of

internally displaced Syrians and of more than 2 million refugees in neighbouring countries, all

in need of external assistance. The EU is gravely concerned about the impact of the upcoming

winter on the most vulnerable and the polio outbreak inside Syria and urges for timely

vaccinations, which require that all parties to the conflict grant full access to health teams

participating in the polio immunization campaign throughout the country.

3.

The EU commends the authorities and population of, most notably, Lebanon and Jordan as

well as Turkey and Iraq for their support and extraordinary generosity towards the people

fleeing the conflict in Syria, and recalls the importance of them maintaining the open borders

policy. The EU recognizes the destabilizing impact this influx of refugees has on the host

communities, especially in Lebanon and Jordan. It also commends other countries hosting an

increasing number of Syrian refugees for their generous support to them. The EU encourages

all these countries to uphold their international obligations.

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4.

The EU reaffirms its commitment as the largest donor in the context of the Syrian crisis to

support governments, host communities and beneficiaries in countries with most refugees. It

welcomes plans for a pledging conference in the beginning of 2014 (“Kuwait II”). The EU

will do its utmost to further increase its commitment and calls on international partners to

increase humanitarian and economic support to those most affected in Syria and the

neighbouring countries. For their part, all donor countries should in accordance with the

principles of burden sharing ensure the fulfilment of pledges already made.

5.

The EU commends those countries that keep their borders open in order to provide a safe

haven and protection for people fleeing the violence in Syria, including Palestinians. In

recognition of the immense burden placed upon the neighbouring countries, the EU underlines

the importance of supporting local host communities through social and economic measures

to mitigate the impact of refugees, and to help financially the host countries to respond to the

growing humanitarian needs of refugees. All parties should facilitate the delivery of aid based

on humanitarian principles of humanity, impartiality, independence and neutrality.

6.

The EU also recalls the need for increased humanitarian, development and macro financial

assistance in the short and medium term across the region under a comprehensive response

strategy to be based on a comprehensive joint analysis of needs from the UN and international

financial institutions. The EU is committed to work closely with the national authorities, the

United Nations, aid organisations, development actors and international financial institutions

one of the main priorities being the reinforcement of local capacities in order to cope with the

essential needs of both refugees and affected local populations.

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7.

The EU reiterates its grave concern about the restricted humanitarian access in Syria, which is

also contributing to the outflow of Syrians, many of whom are also facing worsening food

shortages, to the neighbouring countries. Therefore, the EU calls on all parties, and

particularly the Syrian government, to immediately implement in full the UN Security

Council’s presidential statement of the 2nd of October in order to ensure the expansion of

humanitarian relief operations, to lift bureaucratic impediments and other obstacles and to

facilitate safe, unhindered and immediate humanitarian access to populations in need of

assistance in the entirety of the Syrian territory, including across conflict lines and across

borders from neighbouring countries. The EU calls on all sides of the conflict to allow for

local ceasefires to facilitate humanitarian work and to respect all obligations under

international human rights and humanitarian law. All those violating these obligations must be

held accountable.

The EU also calls on all parties, especially the Syrian government which holds the greatest

responsibility for enabling humanitarian access, to commit themselves to fully opening up all

besieged and encircled areas immediately and permitting civilians wishing to leave to do so.

The EU encourages the UN Security Council to explore the possibilities of a humanitarian

resolution based on the UN Security Council's presidential statement of the 2nd of

October 2013 in case the latter would not lead to improvement of the humanitarian situation

on the ground.

8.

The EU calls on all relevant parties to halt their support to all foreign fighters active in Syria

who also have destabilizing effects on neighbouring countries.

The EU calls for a swift elimination of the Syrian chemical weapons arsenal. The EU will

continue to support this endeavour, including to foster regional stability.

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9.

The EU underlines that the deteriorating spill-over effects of the Syrian conflict in the region

make it all the more urgent to put an end to all violence in Syria and find a political solution

that meets the legitimate aspirations of the Syrian people. The EU reiterates the importance of

quickly convening the Geneva II Conference to this end. Recalling the October 2013 Council

conclusions on Syria, the EU welcomes the recent positive stance of the National Coalition of

the Syrian Revolutionary and Opposition Forces (SOC) towards participation in the

Conference as an encouraging step. Only a political solution that results in a united, inclusive

and democratic Syria can end both the terrible bloodshed and the unprecedented threat to the

regional stability.

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استنتاجات مجلس الشؤون الخارجية حول الانعكاسات الإقليمية للأزمة السورية (18 تشرين الثاني/ نوفمبر 2013)، تؤكد دعم الأردن ولبنان وتركيا والعراق في استضافة اللاجئين.