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Middle East & North Africa (MENA)
The policy of the European Union towards the North African and Middle Eastern countries seeks to encourage political and economic reform in each individual country in due respect for its specific features and regional cooperation among the countries of the region themselves and with the EU.
The Tale of the Twin Cities: Petra and MateraExclusive classical music concert by the world-renowned Italian Cello Trio
International community pledges record figure of over €8.3 billion to meet the needs of Syrians and neighbouring countries and renew support to a UN-led political process to establish an inclusive and united Syria, safe for all citizens. Almost two thirds of overall pledge come from the European Union
"The situation of women has been better during the conflict than before, despite the war… during the peaceful protests in 2011, the voice of women became equal to that of men and the revolution was an opportunity to demand more rights for women", says Ghaliya Al Rahal, a Syrian women's rights activist and director of a network of centres for women empowerment in Northern Syria.
The EU and the UN co-chair the third conference on 'Supporting the future of Syria and the region', taking place in Brussels between 12 and 14 March 2019.
The overarching objective of the three Syria Conferences has always been to support the Syrian people and further mobilise the international community behind the work to achieve a lasting political solution to the Syria crisis, in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254.
Eight years after the outbreak of the conflict, the situation in Syria is still critical, with millions of Syrians displaced and in need of protection and humanitarian assistance. The potential for violence remains high, and there is little progress in sight towards a sustainable resolution of the conflict. Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, as well as other host countries in the region such as Egypt and Iraq, have shown extraordinary solidarity towards the refugees, and they continue to need assistance to meet the growing needs of both the refugees and their own communities.
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