European Union involvement in Syria
The EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice President of the European Commission, Kaja Kallas, ended a two day visit to Rome on Friday.
Kallas participated in the Quint meeting on Syria, hosted by the Italian Foreign Minister, Antonio Tajani.
The Quint is an informal decision making group consisting of the US, France, Germany, Italy and the UK.
- The EU has been discussing how to be involved in Syria after the fall of the government in Damascus.
In mid-December, the European Union opted to directly engage with the interim government set up by HTS, signaling the bloc's willingness to begin normalizing ties with Syria's new leaders.
There are legitimate concerns about the risks of sectarian violence, extremist resurgence and the governance vacuum. It is crucial to preserve the territorial integrity of Syria and to respect its independence, its sovereignty.
Kaja Kallas, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs
It is important that Syria is not turned into a place for meddling in the country's internal affairs, one day by Israel, the next day by Turkey or the US.
Tiberio Graziani, Geopolitical Analyst
In recent weeks Kallas has warned that the EU would not lift sanctions on Syria unless the country's new leaders prove to the world that minorities are not persecuted and women's rights are protected.
On the sidelines of Rome's Quint meeting and ahead of his trip to the Syrian capital Damascus, Italy's Foreign Minister Tajani said that coordination between partners is a strategic element to achieve peace and stability in Syria.
Italy is the only group of seven members to have reopened its embassy in Damascus since the US-triggered war erupted in Syria in 2011.
Many are wondering whether Italy can play a mediatory role between the so-called broader West and some West Asian countries, including Syria.
Italy could play an important role in facilitating negotiations between the actors active in Syria. Italy is not a great power, but has some credibility in this regard.
Giampaolo Cadalanu, Geopolitical Analyst
On Friday, Kallas also met with Italy's Prime Minister, Giorgia Meloni. The two agreed that the international role of the EU must be strengthened.
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