Dr. Yusuf Mansur - Director of ARDD Research Centre
European Union External Action
The European Union and the United Nations will co-chair the fifth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” on 29 and 30 March 2021. In view of COVID-19 restrictions, the Conference will take place in a virtual format.
The overarching objective of the Brussels Conferences is to continue supporting the Syrian people and mobilise the international community in support of a comprehensive and credible political solution to the Syria conflict, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
As with the four previous editions, Brussels V will also address the most critical humanitarian and resilience issues affecting Syrians and communities hosting refugees from Syria, both inside the country and in the region and will renew the international community’s political and financial support for Syria’s neighbours, particularly Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as Egypt and Iraq. Brussels V will be the main pledging event for Syria and the region in 2021.
The Conference will also provide an interactive platform for dialogue with civil society and NGOs active in Syria and the region.
On this page, you will find all the information and material related to the Brussels V Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”.
All the sessions of the Conference will be livestreamed and available directly on this webpage.
The streaming will start at 9.45AM CET on Monday 29 March 2021
At the fifth Brussels Conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the Region' co-chaired on 29-30 March 2021 by the European Union and the United Nations, the international community pledged €5.3 billion for 2021 and beyond for Syria and the neighbouring countries hosting the largest Syrian refugee population. Of this amount, €3.7 billion were announced by the EU, with €1.12 billion coming from the European Commission and €2.6 billion from EU Member States. The EU as a whole remains the largest donor with €24.9 billion of humanitarian, stabilisation and resilience assistance collectively mobilised since the onset of the crisis in 2011 to address its consequences.
You can find the fundraising annex with the pledges’ breakdown here.
For a full list of participants, see here.
Mr Tony Sheehan - Deputy Secretary International Security, Humanitarian and Consular Group of Australia
H.E. Ms Sophie Wilmès & Ms Meryame Kitir - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs & Minister of Development Cooperation of Belgium
H.E. Mr Marcos Bezerra Abbott Galvão - Ambassador, Head of Mission of the Federative Republic of Brazil to the EU
Manar Saifo - PSS facilitator in an educational project in Camps of Bonyan Organization and a female activist working as an advocator for children's right in education
H.E. Mr Flemming Møller Mortensen - Minister for Development Cooperation and Minister for Nordic Cooperation of Denmark
Ms Odile Renaud-Basso - President of the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development
Mr. Tomas Tobé MEP - Chair of the Committee on Development of the European Parliament
Mr David McAllister MEP, Chair of the Committee of Foreign Affairs of the European Parliament
Ms Beth Bechdol - FAO Deputy Director-General of the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO)
H.E. Mr Nayef Falah M. Al-hajraf - Secretary General of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC)
H.E. Mr. Gudlaugur Thor Thordarson, the Minister for Foreign Affairs and International Development Cooperation of Iceland
Mr Guy Ryder - Director General of the International Labour Organization (ILO)
Ms Jeta Menkulasi - Lead Economist of the International Monetary Fund (IMF)
Mr António Vitorino - Director-General of the International Organisation for Migration
H.H. Prince Faisal bin Farhan Al Saud - Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
H.E. Mr Hossam Zaki - Assistant Secretary-General of the League of Arab States
H.E. Mr. Hassan Diab - President of the Council of Ministers of the Lebanese Republic
H.E. Ms Dominique Hasler - Minister for Foreign Affairs of the Principality of Liechtenstein
H.E. Ms Lucy Duncan - New Zealand's Permanent Representative to the United Nations in Geneva
Mr Paweł Jabłoński - Undersecretary of State for Economic and Development Cooperation, Africa and the Middle East of Poland
H.E. Sheikh Mohammed bin Abdulrahman Al-Thani - Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs of Qatar
H.E. Sang-wook HAM - Deputy Minister for Multilateral and Global Affairs of the Republic of Korea
H.E. Sheikh Dr. Ahmed Nasser Al-Mohammad Al Sabah - Minister for Foreign Affairs of Kuwait
Ms Ingrid Brockova - State Secretary of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic
H.E. Ms Maria Aránzazu González Laya, Minister for Foreign Affairs, the European Union and Cooperation of Spain
Ms Ster Kassem - Head of the Administrative Body of the Female Peace Leaders Network, Voice from North East Syria
H.E Khalifa Shaheen Almarar - Minister of State of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of the United Arab Emirates
The Rt. Hon Dominic Raab, MP - First Secretary of State and Secretary of State for Foreign, Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom
Ms Michelle Bachelet Jeria - UN High Commissioner for Human Rights
Ms Maimunah Mohd Sharif - Executive Director of the United Nations Human Settlements Programme
Ms. Ilene Cohn - Deputy Director and Officer-in-Charge of UNMAS
Dr Natalia Kanem - Executive Director of the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA)
Mr Philippe Lazzarini - Under-Secretary-General of the United Nations and Commissioner-General of UNRWA
Dr Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus - Director General of the World Health Organization
Please note, all the sessions in this programme will be livestreamed and available to follow on this page.
29 March 2021
Engage in the Day of Dialogue by submitting written questions before or during the panel discussions on Slido, or on Twitter by using the #SyriaConf2021 and #DayofDialogue.
All panels of the Day of Dialogue will be moderated by Mr Jaafar Abdul Karim, journalist and host of Jaafartalk at Deutsche Welle.
The panel will provide space for a constructive dialogue of civil society organisations with the institutional stakeholders (EU, UN, governments in the region, International Financial Institutions) about mitigating current socio-economic hardship and stimulating livelihoods and job creation. Taking into account the impact of the COVID-19 and other crises on the national economies in host countries, the panel will address other key obstacles that undermine inclusive recovery prospects and job creation especially for the most vulnerable, and discuss strategies to overcome these. The speakers will be invited to explore ways to better support local partners in expanding local jobs and livelihoods opportunities as well as social protection services. Opportunities for a strengthened role of both private sector and civil society in the current economic crisis, as well as possibilities of partnership, will be assessed. Last, but not least the panel will explore ways to maximise refugee contributions to local economies, especially focusing on initiatives led by women or involving youth. The EU will speak to its recently-presented Economic and Investment Plan.
Chairs:
Mr Maciej Popowski, Acting Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission
Ms Khalida Bouzar, Assistant Secretary General, UNDP Director for Arab States
Mr Herve de Villeroche, Special Advisor on Development to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees
Panellists:
This session aims at taking stock of the development of the humanitarian situation inside Syria concerning the lack of livelihoods and food security. The panellists of the session will discuss the most efficient, dignified and durable approaches for strengthening food security response and livelihoods support inside Syria, as well as to reduce aid dependency amongst the most vulnerable individuals and communities. The session will pay particular attention to the needs and inclusion of vulnerable groups such as of women, children, elderly and people with disabilities.
Chair: Mr Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for crisis management
Panellists:
Since the start of the uprising in 2011, gross violations of International Humanitarian Law (IHL) and International Human Rights Law (IHRL) have been committed in Syria by all parties to the conflict, including enforced disappearances and systematic use of torture, sexual violence and killing in the Syrian detention facilities. Over 100.000 people have also disappeared, and their whereabouts are unknown. The EU has been one of the most vocal in support of accountability for crimes committed, including through support to Syrian and international investigative bodies (IIIM, CoI and OPCW), demanding the release of detainees, and uncovering the fate of the missing.
This event will put the international spotlight on detainees and missing persons in Syria, renew the call for detainees release and reiterate the EU full support to accountability for crimes committed against civilians. In particular the event will look at international and Syrian civil society efforts on accountability, detainees and missing persons, and give a voice to the families of the missing and those forcibly detained. It will further spotlight the plight of survivors of arbitrary detention and torture, their needs, and demands for support and justice.
Keynotes:
Mr Stefano Sannino, Secretary General, EEAS
Ms Khawla Matar, United Nations Deputy Special Envoy for Syria
Mr Dimiter Chalev, OHCHR Representative, Human Rights Office for Syria
Panellists
Closing remarks: Mr Carl Hallergard, Deputy Managing Director MENA, EEAS
30 March 2021
For a full list of participants, see here.
You can watch the full ministerial again here.
All sessions will be moderated by Valerie Hopkins.
Chairs:
Mr Josep Borrell, EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy / Vice-President of the Commission
Mr Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria
14.50-15.15: Press Conference
Chairs:
Mr Maciej Popowski, Acting Director-General for Neighbourhood Policy and Enlargement Negotiations, European Commission
Mr Achim Steiner, Administrator of the United Nations' Development Programme (UNDP)
Mr Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees
Chairs:
Mr Janez Lenarčič, EU Commissioner for Crisis Management
Mr Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
To highlight the diversity and the richness of Syrian culture, the EU, in cooperation with Lagrange Points Brussels, will organise four virtual concerts featuring a variety of Syrian musicians, Sufi whirling and poetry artists; an online introduction to Syrian cuisine; and an exhibition at Lagrange Points Brussels. All videos will be available online.
Numerous side events will take place in the margins of the Brussels V Conference, initiated and organised by civil society organisations, participating countries, the United Nations and international organisations.
DISCLAIMER: This compilation is based on information made available to the EU's Brussels V Conference Team. It has been compiled for information purposes only and may not be comprehensive. The descriptions are based on open sources and communication received from event organisers. Views, thoughts and opinions expressed during these events reflect solely those of the speakers and do not constitute endorsement by the European Union or the United Nations.
The International Rescue Committee (IRC) Jordan and the embassy of Sweden in Amman are organising a panel discussion on Syrian refugees and vulnerable Jordanian host communities' progress and challenges on livelihoods commitments through the Jordan Compact over the past decade.
A webinar on the findings of a research project conducted by the Durable Solutions Platform (DSP) and the Migration Policy Institute (MPI).
A virtual side event on challenges related to the Syrian forced displacement crisis, ahead of the Brussels V Conference on supporting the future of Syria and the region.
With food insecurity reaching record levels in the region, this event will showcase cash-based interventions as an effective modality of assistance for food insecure refugees, displaced persons and other vulnerable populations in achieving food security and related sector outcomes.
This side event will highlight key developments regarding housing land and property rights violations in Syria since Brussels IV.
The event will aim to shed light on the crucial role played by independent Syrian media.
The discussion will bring together experts, as well as humanitarian workers from inside Syria, to highlight the main challenges in the ongoing health response and explore opportunities for increased support of health needs and filling existing gaps.
This event is intended to provide a critical discussion of the past and possible future evolution of EU policy regarding the Syrian conflict.
The webinar will focus on the situation of Syrian refugees and internally displaced people in Syria and in neighbouring countries, addressing the issue of forced returns and expulsions through the lenses of justice and accountability.
The discussion serves as a call to action for international and national partners to critically examine how they are working to support the empowerment of Syrian refugee women across the region, and to set out a framework for engagement – leveraging livelihoods and protection interventions – that can support women’s protection and empowerment.
Can a durable solutions dialogue group (composed of civil society, donors and key member states) be set up to accelerate the implementation of aid localisation efforts and commitments with regards to durable solutions?
Through this event, the Norwegian Refugee Council and the Geneva Call aim to highlight the importance of protection of civilians through humanitarian activities in Northern Syria, in camps and off camps activities and through engagement with ANSAs and de facto authorities.
The event falls under the thematic priority of fight against impunity, as well as the protection and promotion of Syrian human rights defenders advancing basic freedom and human dignity in the country.
The goal of this side event will be to initiate discussions on innovative and sustainable ways vulnerable migrants and host communities can be empowered and supported through their own livelihoods in a dignified and humane manner.
During this year’s Brussels Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the Region, Humanity & Inclusion will organise a panel discussion on 10 years of conflict and how it led to Syria having the highest recorded prevalence of disability in conflict worldwide.
The event will put the spotlight on the status of children's rights in Syria ten years after the beginning of the conflict.
For the second year in a row, Search for Common Ground will use film to bring Syrian perspectives to the discussions of the conference.
This webinar will address the progress and needs in responding to the COVID19 pandemic in Syria including how best to support the COVID 19 vaccine roll-out in 2021.
The event will feature a Zoom conversation with family members of political prisoners taken by the Syrian Regime and Daesh.
To date, tens of thousands Syrians have been detained by the Syrian regime and other parties to the conflict.
The event will explore the costs of the conflict and associated consequences (both immediate and longer-term) for children and communities.
The goal of this side event will be to highlight the importance of education for the refugees and how higher diplomas can empower the youth to secure a decent life and even to start their own business in a dignified and humane manner.
At this event marking the tenth anniversary of the outbreak of the popular uprising in Syria, speakers will consider what can be done to stop the violations.
The event will convene a group of humanitarian actors including donors, UN and International and national NGOs to cover the topics for the UNSC Resolution 2533 importance and renewal and the current funding gaps in Northwest Syria.
Young Voices, The Role of Syrian Youth in Peacebuilding Process
In December 2020, the World Bank and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) issued a joint study, “Compounding Misfortunes: Changes in Poverty since the Onset of COVID-19 on Syrian Refugees and Host Communities in Jordan, Iraq-Kurdistan Region of Iraq (KRI) and Lebanon.
Since 2014 the Global Platform for Syrian Students, an initiative launched by Jorge Sampaio, former president of Portugal, with the full support of the Portuguese authorities, the academic community and some international partners, has been running an emergency scholarship programme for young people caught in the Syrian conflict.
The event will feature the UK’s Minister for the Middle East and North Africa alongside senior UN and Syrian voices showcasing the impact of early recovery interventions on improved food security, reduced harmful coping behaviours, and strengthened social and economic resilience for the most vulnerable.
During this side event to the 5th Brussels Conference, the participants will address the following topics:
The British Council Syria and Ettijahat – Independent Culture are organising discussions around major challenges of artistic work in communities in times of crisis, conversations on striking a balance between fundamental challenges of social work and new ones related to quarantine, social distancing and overall economic difficulties.
The event will discuss the resort to violence and violent extremism in Northeast Syria based on a new study entitled “Preventing the Re-emergence of violent extremism in Northeast Syria.” This report was produced as a joint collaboration by the National Agenda for the Future of Syria Programme (NAFS) at UN ESCWA and the Center on International Cooperation at New York University.
The side event objective is to highlight the challenges and opportunities of Agriculture Value Chain in the Syrian conflict setting that is highly politicised, suffers from unstable markets, affected by short international sanctions, a deepening economic crisis and varying donor approaches.
In this panel discussion, the Global Public Policy Institute (GPPi) aims to kick start dialogue and engagement among key stakeholders working towards accountability for mass crimes committed over the course of the conflict, on the issue of improving data collection of women victims of mass crimes.
The Syrian NGO Alliance (SNA) is organising a side-event on the challenges related to the lives of Syrian youth, ahead of the Brussels V Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region.
Panellists will discuss the return of basic services as a key pillar of stabilisation approaches in Syria: the example of the health sector in North East Syria.
This side event will look at the challenges faced by Syrian children in accessing Non-Formal Education opportunities during the time of a pandemic.
Please note, this event is an invitation only roundtable.
The International Legal Assistance Consortium (ILAC) will give a preview of key findings from its new Syria rule of law assessment report.
Please note, this event is an invitation only roundtable. If you have any questions or inquiries regarding this side event, please get in touch with dhabib@ifit-transitions.org
The discussion will revolve around the challenge of operating in unbanked crisis zones / high-risk jurisdictions such as sanctioned Syria.
10 years after the beginning of the Syria crisis, engaging with civil society remains central to the European Union’s work in Syria and its neighbouring countries.
In the framework of the Conference, the EU launched a virtual consultation with civil society organisations to gather recommendations on key issues affecting the civil society, people inside Syria, Syrian refugees and hosting communities in the neighbouring countries. The online survey was launched and remained open for two weeks, from 18 February until 2 March.
The insights and recommendations of 1.572 participants from civil society representatives from Syria and the region, international NGOs, local authorities, academia, and individuals resulted in the Report on the Civil society consultations.
The consultation points to the appetite of civil society and local organisations for greater involvement in all aspects of assistance in the response to the Syria crisis. Support to livelihoods and education are highlighted as the most important priorities for support, alongside the importance of the “triple nexus” of humanitarian aid, development, and peace, crucial for promoting sustainable solutions to the crisis.
The contributions to the online survey, together with the targeted discussions with EU and UN’s local partners in Syria and the region constitute the backbone of the consultations with civil society.
The outcomes of these consultations will be presented during the Conference and will contribute to shape the international community's response and ensure its relevance. The event will be web-streamed and will bring together civil society, NGOs, international organisations, refugee-hosting countries, the EU and the UN community.
If you would like to receive updates about the consultations and the Day of Dialogue with civil society, please register via this link.
For any questions related to the consultations or the Day of Dialogue with civil society, please contact ec-dayofdialogue@ec.europa.eu
The press conference by Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of a stronger Europe in the World and Mark Lowcock, United Nations Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator, can be watched again here.
For any press-related questions, please contact the Spokesperson’s Service.
Following the fifth Brussels V Conference on Supporting the future of Syria and the region which took place on 29 and 30 March 2021, the co-chairs adopted a co-chairs' statement.
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We meet at a sober moment here in Brussels on this Conference [on Supporting the future of Syria and the region]. Ten years since the start of this terrible conflict in Syria.
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Good afternoon,
This is the fifth time that the European Union is organising a conference on ‘Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region’. This is nothing to be celebrated: it just shows how tragic and prolonged the situation is for the Syrian people.
The EU is organising the fifth Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region next 29 and 30 March 2021, co-chaired with the United Nations. Due to COVID-19 restrictions, this two-day Conference will take place in a virtual format.
The European Union is hosting and co-chairing with the United Nations the fifth Brussels Conference on "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" on 29 and 30 March 2021. The high-level event aims to maintain the international community's support behind efforts to address critical humanitarian and resilience needs in Syria and the region, and facilitate a sustainable political solution in Syria. The Conference is the main pledging event for the Syrian crisis in 2021.
Ten years into the conflict, the situation in Syria is still critical, with millions of Syrians displaced and in need of humanitarian protection and assistance.
Responding to the Syrian Crisis - EU support inside Syria
Responding to the Syrian Crisis - EU support in Turkey
Responding to the Syrian Crisis - EU support in Lebanon
Responding to the Syrian Crisis - EU support in Jordan
15 March 2021 marks ten years since peaceful protests began throughout Syria. Their violent repression by the regime sparked a decade of conflict. The regime’s brutal repression of the Syrian people and its failure to address the root causes of the uprising has resulted in an escalated and internationalised armed conflict.
The European Union will host the fifth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” on 29-30 March 2021. In view of Covid-19 restrictions, the Conference will take place in virtual format.
Pictures and videos from the Conference can be found here: https://audiovisual.ec.europa.eu/en/topnews/M-006485
For any questions, please email brussels-syria-conference@eeas.europa.eu
31/03/2021 – HR/VP Blog – The Syria conflict has wreaked havoc for ten years and it is still going on. That is why we must continue to mobilise international support for the Syrian people. We achieved this with the Fifth “Brussels Conference on the future of Syria and the region” this week – generating € 5,3 billion of new pledges. But we also need to renew the search for a political solution to the crisis.
