Supporting the future of Syria and the region – Brussels V conference, 29-30 March 2021

Summary:

The fifth Brussels Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region was held on 29-30 March 2021. It was held in a virtual format on this occasion. The Conference was co-chaired by the European Union (EU) and the United Nations (UN).

Further information:

Over 80 countries and international organisations were represented in the Brussels V Conference. Participants addressed the situation in Syria and the region and renewed their support to the UN-led efforts for a comprehensive political solution to the conflict. The Brussels V Conference also provided a unique platform for dialogue with civil society in Syria and the region.

The conference succeeded in mobilising aid to Syrians inside the country and in the neighbouring countries, including for hosting communities, through pledges totalling €5.3 billion for 2021 and beyond.

Official

Council of the European Union: Supporting the future of Syria and the region - Brussels Conference, 29-30 March 2021 https://www.consilium.europa.eu/en/meetings/international-ministerial-meetings/2021/03/29-30/

EU EEAS: Supporting the future of Syria and the region - Brussels Conference, 29-30 March 2021 https://eeas.europa.eu/headquarters/headquarters-homepage/93313/brussels-v-conference-%E2%80%93-supporting-future-syria-and-region_en

UN OCHA: Supporting the future of Syria and the region, 30 March 2021 https://www.unocha.org/supporting-future-syria-and-region-30-march-2021

EU EEAS: Supporting the future of Syria and the region - Brussels Conference, 29-30 March 2021 (Co-Chairs Statement) https://eeas.europa.eu/sites/default/files/20210330_b5c_co-chr_final_en_1.pdf

European Commission: Press Release, 30/03/2021: Syrian crisis: €5.3 billion mobilised by donors for 2021 and beyond at 5th Brussels Conference https://ec.europa.eu/commission/presscorner/detail/en/ip_21_1464

United Nations: News, 30/03/2021: Ending Syria’s war is our collective responsibility, UN chief tells donor conference https://news.un.org/en/story/2021/03/1088672

German Federal Foreign Office: Newsroom, 30/03/2021: Foreign Minister Maas on the donor conference for Syria https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/newsroom/news/maas-syria/2451424

Irish Government: Press Release, 30/03/2021: Minister Coveney announces pledge of €23 million to Syria Crisis https://www.gov.ie/en/press-release/cb6af-minister-coveney-announces-pledge-of-23-million-to-syria-crisis/

Dutch Government: Speech by the Minister for Foreign Trade and Development Cooperation, Sigrid Kaag, at the Brussels V Conference (30 March 2021) https://www.government.nl/documents/speeches/2021/03/30/speech-by-the-minister-for-international-trade-and-development-cooperation-sigrid-kaag-at-the-brussels-v-conference

UN IOM: Press Release, 30/03/2021: IOM Requires Greater Funding to Provide Relief to 2.3 Million Syrians Suffering from a Decade of Conflict https://www.iom.int/news/iom-requires-greater-funding-provide-relief-23-million-syrians-suffering-decade-conflict

Japanese Ministry of Foreign Affairs: Supporting the future of Syria and the region, Brussels V Conference, 2021 https://www.mofa.go.jp/me_a/me1/sy/page3e_001113.html

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News

The Guardian, 26/03/2021: Syria aid cut could come back to bite UK, warns UN official https://www.theguardian.com/politics/2021/mar/26/syria-aid-cut-could-come-back-to-bite-uk-warns-un-official

Euronews, 29/03/2021: Brussels conference on Syria aims to raise billions for decade-long crisis https://www.euronews.com/2021/03/29/brussels-conference-on-syria-aims-to-raise-billions-for-decade-long-crisis

Deutsche Welle, 29/03/2021: Syria donor conference: Aid groups struggle with shortfalls https://p.dw.com/p/3rJoc

France24, 30/03/2021: Donors face $10bn aid appeal at Syria conference https://www.france24.com/en/live-news/20210330-donors-face-10bn-aid-appeal-at-syria-conference

Reuters, 30/03/2021: U.N. raises $6.4 billion for Syrians as humanitarian needs soar https://www.reuters.com/article/us-syria-security-eu/idUSKBN2BM030

RFI News, 30/03/2021: Donors face $10bn aid appeal at Syria conference https://www.rfi.fr/en/donors-face-10bn-aid-appeal-at-syria-conference

Kathimerini, 30/03/2021: FM says Syria remains a proxy war https://www.ekathimerini.com/news/1158216/fm-says-syria-remains-a-proxy-war/

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Commentary and Analysis

Amnesty International: Recommendations ahead of the Brussels V Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region (March 2021) https://www.amnesty.eu/news/recommendations-ahead-of-the-brussels-v-conference-on-supporting-the-future-of-syria-and-the-region/

Human Rights Watch: News, 28/03/2021: EU-UN Aid Conference Should Focus on Syrians’ Rights https://www.hrw.org/news/2021/03/28/eu-un-aid-conference-should-focus-syrians-rights

Oxfam International: Press Release, 30/03/2021: Pledges fail Syrians https://www.oxfam.org/en/press-releases/pledges-fail-syrians

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