EU moves to engage with Syria's new government

The European Union has taken its first step toward direct engagement with Syria's new government. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas announced that the bloc’s top diplomat for Syria will travel to Damascus for talks with the new leadership.

The European Union has taken its first step toward direct engagement with Syria's new government. EU Foreign Policy Chief Kaja Kallas announced that the bloc’s top diplomat for Syria will travel to Damascus for talks with the new leadership.

Kaja Kallas emphasized that discussions on how to engage with Syria’s new leadership are underway, with the EU evaluating potential next steps based on Syria’s direction.

Kaja said, "I've also tasked a European top diplomat in Syria to go to Damascus to make the contacts with the new government and people there. So we will also discuss today in the Foreign Affairs Council how we engage with the new leadership of Syria and on what level we engage with the new leadership. And of course, what more steps are we willing to take if we see that Syria goes to the right direction."

Over the weekend, representatives from the EU, US, UK, UN, and Arab nations gathered in Aqaba, Jordan, where they signed a joint declaration on Syria. The declaration calls for the protection of human rights, including the rights of women and minorities, while expressing full support for Syria's unity, territorial integrity, and sovereignty.

EU heads of state and government will discuss the situation in Syria further at the upcoming European Council meeting on December 19.

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