EU fails to speak with one voice on Syria

Groups from the rebel forces in the conflict in Syria have pleaded for the EU to lift an arms embargo on Syria so that member states could supply weapons to outgunned opposition groups. Whether or not that will happen remains an open question, but it is clear that the Syrian war is bedevilling efforts to forge a common foreign policy for the EU.

EEAS: Countries: Syria and the European Union http://eeas.europa.eu/syria/index_en.htm

ESO: Background information: France and Germany disagree on arming Syria rebels http://www.europeansources.info/record/france-and-germany-disagree-on-arming-syria-rebels/

BBC, 15.03.13: Francois Hollande defends Syria weapons plan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-21796002

EurActiv, 18.03.13: Hollande sets end-of-May deadline for EU to lift Syria arms embargo http://www.euractiv.com/global-europe/hollande-sets-june-deadline-eu-l-news-518564

Der Spiegel, 15.03.13: Two Years of War: EU Leaders Split Over Arming Syrian Rebels http://www.spiegel.de/international/europe/european-union-split-over-ending-arms-embargo-to-syria-a-889151.html

Deutsche Welle, 16.03.13: Syrian arms embargo divides EU http://dw.de/p/17ynT

European Parliament: DG Extenal Policies: Studies: A bleak balance sheet: The second anniversary of Syria's war http://www.europarl.europa.eu/committees/en/studiesdownload.html?languageDocument=EN&file=91710

EUObserver, 24.03.13: UK and France: only weapons will make al-Assad talk http://euobserver.com/foreign/119551

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