The European Parliament approves the use of the assets of the Assad regime to support the reconstruction in Syria

On Wednesday, the European Parliament approved a draft resolution that allows the use of frozen assets of the Bashar al -Assad regime to support the process of political transition and reconstruction in Syria. According to the parliament’s statement, the decision received 462 deputies, in exchange for 76 opposition and 106 from voting.

The statement stressed that “Parliament calls on the European Union and member states to support the transitional forces in Syria,” and called on Damascus to end its alliances with Tehran and Moscow. He stressed the need for a political transition to include all religious and ethnic components in the country.

Parliament pointed out that about 500,000 people were displaced inside Syria, while 90% of the population lives below the poverty line, calling on the European Union to continue providing humanitarian aid. He also stressed the importance of supporting neighboring countries, which hosts about 5.5 million Syrian refugees, welcoming the new humanitarian aid package of 235 million euros.

The European Parliament called for helping the new Syrian administration in rebuilding vital infrastructure, including energy, water, health and education sectors. The European Union also called for the investigation of the possibility of using the frozen assets of the Syrian regime to finance reconstruction and compensate the victims.

The statement expressed its concern about the stability of Syria and the region, denouncing the recent events in the Syrian coast. Despite the issuance of the decision, the statement did not refer to the volume of financial assets frozen of the Assad regime with the member states of the European Union.

Paris requires accountability for violations to lift sanctions on Syria

In a related context, the French government warned, on Wednesday, that Paris would not accept the lifting of the sanctions imposed on Syria if the violations that led to the killing of more than a thousand civilians in the west and central of the country continued in recent days, without accountability.

“It is evident that we will not accept the lifting of the sanctions again if there are no guarantees to hold those responsible for these crimes accountable.” He added: “France condemns all violations against civilians, regardless of its perpetrators, whether they are groups loyal to the Assad regime or terrorist groups.”

The French minister indicated that Syria’s stability and prosperity will not be achieved without a political process that guarantees the rights and security of all sects. He also welcomed the agreements concluded by the new Syrian authorities, headed by Ahmed Al -Shara, with the Kurds and Druze. In late February, the European Union announced the suspension of the sanctions imposed on the main economic sectors in Syria to support the reconstruction efforts and the transitional stage, despite the continued fragility of the security situation, and the recent killings showed.

According to the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, at least 1383 civilians have been killed since March 6, by security forces and allied groups with the former regime, in operations targeting the Alawite regions, the sect to which Assad belonged.

(Anatolia, France Press)