Strong EU attendance at 'Supporting Syria and the Region' conference in London

High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini, Commissioner for European Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations Johannes Hahn and Commissioner for Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Management Christos Stylianides will travel to London on Thursday 4 February to attend the conference 'Supporting Syria and the Region', hosted by the United Kingdom with Germany, Norway, Kuwait and United Nations. Together with the President of the European Council Donald Tusk, and the President of the European Parliament Martin Schulz, they will represent the EU to reconfirm their solidarity with the Syrian people and neighbouring countries that have been affected by the crisis. The EU has been the leading donor in the international response to the Syria crisis, providing support for Syrians in their country and refugees in neighbouring countries. Over seventy Heads of State/Government have been invited to the event. President of the European Council Tusk and HRVP Mogherini will speak for the EU in the plenary and refer to the EU pledge. Commissioners Hahn and Stylianides will participate in the Focus Events that will provide in-depth input to the plenary. The Conference takes place in the context of increased international efforts to find a political solution to the Syria conflict. With the Syria conflict soon entering its sixth year, 18 million people are in need of assistance, 6.5 million are internally displaced in Syria and 4.6 million Syrians have been forced to flee to neighbouring countries. The London Conference takes a different approach from previous pledging conferences for the Syria crisis in Kuwait, as it also seeks to address the longer-term stabilisation of Syria and neighbouring refugee/hosting countries. A factsheet is available here. Video and photos of the visit will be available on EbS.

For more information:

Maja Kocijancic – Tel.: +32 229-86570

Alexandre Polack – Tel.: +32 229-90677

Alceo Smerilli – Tel.: +32 229-64887

بيان صحفي من المفوضية الأوروبية حول مشاركة الاتحاد الأوروبي في مؤتمر دعم سورية والمنطقة في لندن.