Mr President,

Members of the Security Council,

I have the honour to deliver this statement on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

The Candidate Countries, North Macedonia^* and Montenegro^*, align themselves with this statement.

The EU is worried by the persisting negative trends on the ground, including illegal settlement expansion, violence against civilians committed by all parties, terror attacks and increasing demolitions and evictions, which severely threaten the two-state solution. The EU reaffirms its commitment to a just and comprehensive resolution of the Israeli-Palestinian conflict, based on the two state solution, with the State of Israel and an independent, democratic, contiguous, sovereign, and viable State of Palestine, living side by side in peace and security and mutual recognition, and with Jerusalem serving as the future capital of both states.

The EU condemns all acts of violence and calls for accountability. The EU deplores the increase in violence that not only results in tragic loss of lives, but also fuels tensions and animosity. The EU firmly condemns recent terror attacks in Israel and remains committed to the prevention and fight against terrorism and violent extremism. The EU firmly condemns the increase in settler violence and calls for accountability. The EU is deeply concerned about the increasingly high number of casualties, including children. The EU recalls that any use of force must be proportionate and in line with international law, including international human rights and humanitarian law and only be applied as a last resort when it is strictly unavoidable in order to protect life. The EU reiterates its call for a thorough investigation into the killing of journalist Shireen Abu Akleh while covering an Israeli security operation in the occupied West Bank, and that those responsible are brought to justice.

EU’s opposition to Israel’s settlement policy and actions taken in this context, including in East Jerusalem, and especially in sensitive areas such as E1, is well known. The EU reiterates that settlements are illegal under international law and calls to halt all settlement activities. Such actions as building the separation barrier beyond the 1967 line, demolitions and confiscation - including of EU funded projects - evictions, forced transfers including of Bedouins, illegal outposts, settler violence and restrictions of movement and access severely threaten the two-state solution and will only escalate an already tense environment. The EU is concerned about increased demolitions and evictions, including in East Jerusalem. It will be important not to proceed with any planned demolitions and evictions. 

The EU recalls the special significance of the holy sites, and calls for upholding the status quo put in place in 1967 for the Temple Mount / al-Haram al-Sharif in line with previous understandings and with respect to Jordan's special role. Underlining the necessity to respect the status quo also for the Christian holy sites, the EU reiterates the importance of maintaining peaceful coexistence of all three monotheistic religions. The EU will closely monitor developments and their implications on the ground, and remains ready to contribute  further  to the protection and the viability of the two state solution.

The EU reiterates the imperative to consolidate the ceasefire in Gaza, and recalls its unequivocal position that rocket fire, launching of incendiary devices and other attacks by Hamas and other terrorist groups are unacceptable. The EU calls for further lifting of restrictions, underlining the need for unimpeded humanitarian access to Gaza. The EU calls on all parties to take necessary steps to produce a fundamental change to the political, security and economic situation in the Gaza Strip, including the end of the closure and a full opening of the crossing points, while addressing Israel's legitimate security concerns.

The EU reiterates its call on the Palestinian Authority to organize the postponed national elections without further delay, and urges all Palestinian factions to engage in good faith in the reconciliation process, to adhere to previous agreements, renounce violence and terrorism, and recognise Israel’s right to exist and to commit to democratic principles, including the rule of law. Democratic Palestinian institutions based on respect for the rule of law and human rights are vital for the Palestinian people, and, ultimately, for the two-state solution.

Palestinian civil society must be allowed by all parties to carry out its important task freely, while freedom of expression must be upheld. The EU recalls the need to hold those responsible for the death of Nizar Banat accountable. The EU is proud of its continued support to civil society that contributes to peace efforts and confidence building between Israelis and Palestinians. The EU urges parties to refrain from using anti-terrorism legislation to undermine civil society and their valuable work and contributions to the pursuit of accountability.

Until a just, fair, agreed and realistic solution to the refugee issue in accordance with international law is found, UNRWA remains crucial for providing the necessary protection and essential services for Palestine refugees, supporting peace and stability in the region. The EU will continue to support UNRWA in all its fields of operations, including in East Jerusalem.  We welcome the recent Ad Hoc Committee of the General Assembly for the announcement of voluntary contributions to the UNRWA conference on 23 June and we call upon all partners to increase their contributions to UNRWA.

The EU encourages further engagement between the parties to restore a political horizon and open the path towards the relaunch of the peace process as soon as possible. The EU welcomes measures to improve Palestinian livelihoods, and calls for implementation of the commitments made at the Ad Hoc Liaison Committee meeting in Brussels on 10 May. Towards that end, the EU reiterates the importance of a deepened dialogue between the parties, and encourages easing restrictions on Palestinian movement. Together with the necessary reform of the Palestinian Authority, this will also contribute to improving its dire fiscal situation.

Mr President,

More than decade after the start of the Syria conflict, the Syrian people continue to suffer from violence and hardship. It is essential that the international community keeps pursuing a sustainable and comprehensive political solution in Syria. The European Union remains firm in its commitment to this goal.  

A durable solution to the conflict requires a genuine and inclusive political transition with full, equal and meaningful participation of women in line with the UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and with the 2012 Geneva Communiqué. The EU fully supports the efforts of UN Special Envoy Geir Pedersen to advance on all aspects of UNSCR 2254, including his “steps-for-steps” approach in furthering the political process.

According to the most recent OHCHR report, over 300 000 civilians have been killed in Syria between 2011 and 2021 – or 83 per day – as a direct result of the conflict. The report confirms the extent of the human suffering in Syria. Civilians must be protected at all times and therefore, once again, the EU echoes the calls made by the UN Security Council for the implementation of a nationwide ceasefire.

The Syrian regime must fully cooperate with the OPCW, including in its investigations of the use of chemical weapons in the conflict.

All parties responsible for breaches of international humanitarian law and human rights law, some of which may constitute war crimes and crimes against humanity, must be held accountable.  The EU reiterates its call to have the situation in Syria referred to the International Criminal Court.

Accountability and justice for victims is essential for a stable, peaceful Syria, based on a credible, inclusive and viable political solution in accordance with UNSCR 2254.

In the absence of international justice, the prosecution of war crimes under national jurisdiction where possible, now under way in several EU Member States, represents an important contribution towards securing justice. In addition, The Netherlands and Canada are engaged in an important initiative to hold Syria to account for breaching the UN Convention Against Torture.

The EU will continue to support efforts to gather evidence with a view to future legal action, including by the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism for Syria, and the work of the Commission of Inquiry.

Turkey’s security concerns stemming from northern Syria should be addressed through political and diplomatic means, not by military action, and in full respect of international humanitarian law. In this respect, recent announcements on another military operation in northern Syria are alarming and we urge for restraint.

The underlying causes of the refugee and displacement crisis must be addressed under UNSCR 2254.  The EU continues to warn against any further displacements in any part of Syria, as well as against the potential exploitation of such displacements for the purposes of social and demographic engineering. Conditions for the safe, voluntary and dignified return of refugees and displaced persons to their places of origin, in line with the parameters defined by UNHCR and in accordance with international law, remain to be met. The EU will be in a position to support returns only once these conditions are satisfied.

Early recovery projects are also important for the dignity of the Syrian people, and for their future. EU-funded projects are intended and designed for those in genuine need. The EU will not fund early recovery efforts that could support social and demographic engineering

Humanitarian needs in Syria continue to increase: more than 12 million people – 55 percent of the population – are food insecure. There is an estimated 14.6 million people in need inside Syria.  The EU and its Member States are the largest donor and have provided EUR 25 billion to meet the needs arising from the crisis over the last decade.

At the sixth Brussels Conference on Supporting the Future of Syria and the region on 9-10 May 2022 hosted by the EU, the international community pledged close to €6.4 billion for 2022 and beyond. Out of this amount, over €4.8 billion were pledged by the European Union, with over €3.1 billion coming from the European Commission (€1.56 billion for 2022 and €1.56 billion for 2023) and €1.7 billion from the European Union Member States. This funding will help people in Syria and the neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees. We will continue to demonstrate solidarity with the Syrian people and call on the international community to increase their commitments.  We commend the neighbouring countries for hosting large number of Syrian refugees for more than a decade, and call on all leaders to avoid divisive rhetoric regarding Syrian refugees.

On 12 July 2022, the United Nations Security Council extended for six months, until 10 January 2023, the authorisation for the UN to use the crossing point of Bab al-Hawa from Turkey to Syria for humanitarian deliveries, with a further extension of an additional six months requiring a separate resolution (UNSC resolution 2642). The EU regrets that the mechanism has not been renewed for 12 month, as called for by the UN Secretary-General and the humanitarian community and supported by most Security-Council members. The extension is a humanitarian imperative to preserve the functioning of a critical humanitarian lifeline for the 4.1 million Syrian men, women and children, including 2.8 million internally displaced, in northwest Syria who depend on the vital humanitarian assistance delivered through this mechanism to help them survive. The European Union will continue to advocate for all parties to depoliticise and allow unimpeded and continued delivery of humanitarian aid to all those in need. Cross-border assistance will continue to be vital to meet the immense humanitarian needs in Syria, especially in the context of the increasing food insecurity in the region caused by Russia’s unprovoked and unjustified war of aggression in Ukraine. The EU fully supports the renewal of this essential mechanism scheduled to be voted on in January 2023.

The EU reiterates its call for a political solution and emphasises that no normalisation, lifting of sanctions or reconstruction will be possible until the Syrian regime engages in a political transition, in the framework of UNSCR 2254 and the Geneva process.

The EU is looking forward to the report of the Secretary-General on a possible independent mechanism with an international mandate to clarify the fate and whereabouts of missing persons in Syria.

The EU remains committed to the unity, sovereignty and territorial integrity of the Syrian state, and calls once again on all parties to the conflict to advance a credible sustainable and inclusive political solution based on the full and comprehensive implementation of UNSCR 2254.  It is the only route to sustainable peace in Syria.

Thank you.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia and Albania continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.