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European Parliament Approves Use of Frozen Assad Funds for Syria Reconstruction
In a significant move, the European Parliament approved a resolution on Wednesday allowing the use of frozen assets belonging to Bashar al-Assad's regime to support the political transition and reconstruction process in Syria. The resolution was approved by 462 MPs, while 76 opposed it and 106 abstained from voting.
The statement issued by the Parliament emphasized that "the European Union and its member states are called upon to support the transitional forces in Syria," stressing the need for Damascus to end its alliances with Tehran and Moscow. The Parliament also highlighted the importance of including all religious and ethnic components in the political transition process.
The Parliament noted that approximately 500,000 people remain internally displaced in Syria, and around 90% of the population lives below the poverty line, necessitating that the European Union continue providing humanitarian aid. It also underscored the importance of supporting neighboring countries hosting about 5.5 million Syrian refugees, welcoming a new humanitarian aid initiative worth 235 million euros.
The European Parliament called for assisting the new Syrian administration in rebuilding vital infrastructure, including in the areas of energy, water, health, and education. It urged the European Union to consider the possibility of using the regime's frozen assets to fund reconstruction and compensate victims.
The statement expressed concern for the stability of Syria and the region as a whole, and condemned recent events in the Syrian coastal area. However, the statement did not disclose the amount of frozen financial assets belonging to Assad's regime in EU member states.
In a related context, the French government warned on Wednesday that Paris would not agree to lift the sanctions imposed on Syria unless the violations that led to the deaths of over a thousand civilians in the western and central regions of the country in recent days stopped, and without holding those responsible accountable.
French Minister for Francophonie, Thani Muhammad al-Sulehi, stated before the Senate: "It is clear that we will not accept lifting the sanctions again if there are no guarantees for holding those responsible for these crimes accountable." He emphasized that France condemns all violations against civilians, regardless of the perpetrators, whether they are loyal to the Assad regime or from terrorist groups.
The French minister also indicated that the stability and prosperity of Syria will not be achieved without a political process that takes into account the rights and security of all communities. He welcomed the agreements made by the new Syrian authorities under Ahmed al-Shar' with the Kurds and Druze.
It is worth mentioning that the European Union announced in late February the suspension of sanctions imposed on key economic sectors in Syria to support reconstruction efforts and the transitional phase, despite the ongoing fragile security situation. According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 1,383 civilians have been killed since March 6 by security forces and groups allied with the regime, in operations targeting Alawite areas, the sect to which Assad belongs.
