resolution motion, 7 July 2025
On urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria, following the recent terrorist attack on the Mar Elias church in Damascus
Motion B-10-2025-0335 · (2025/2798(RSP))
on behalf of the Verts/ALE Group · Rapporteur: Hannah Neumann, Maria Ohisalo, Katrin Langensiepen, Nicolae Ștefănuță, Mounir Satouri, Catarina Vieira
- Voted on Thursday, 10 July 2025 · Adopted 625 for, 7 against, 10 abstained · See the decision →
- Where the law stands · dossier 2025/2798 →
AI:In short
A resolution on protecting religious minorities in Syria after the attack on the Mar Elias church. It condemns violence, calls for investigations and protection of all Syrians, and stresses that Syria is not safe for refugee returns.
Key points
- Condemns all violent attacks in Syria, especially those targeting ethnic and religious groups, and expresses solidarity with victims.
- Calls on all actors to cease violence and respect international humanitarian and human rights law.
- Calls on Syrian interim authorities to investigate all violence, hold perpetrators accountable, and increase efforts for peace and justice.
- Calls on Syrian interim authorities to rein in violent factions, curb weapons trafficking, and protect all Syrians regardless of ethnicity or religion.
- Reiterates the importance of Syria's territorial integrity for a stable framework.
- Calls on the EU to convey that transitional justice is central to its support for Syria's transition and recovery.
- Reiterates that Syria is not safe for refugee returns; any return must be voluntary, safe, and dignified.
- Welcomes lifting of EU sanctions, humanitarian response, and €175 million for social and economic recovery.
- Underscores Syrian civil society's contribution and calls on the Commission to prioritize a 'Day of Dialogue Conference' with civil society.
Who is affected
- Syrian interim authorities: must investigate violence, protect all Syrians, and rein in violent factions.
- EU institutions: must convey transitional justice priorities and hold a dialogue conference with Syrian civil society.
- Refugees and asylum seekers: Syria is not safe for return; returns must be voluntary and dignified.
Figures and deadlines
Written by AI from the full text · every figure comes from the text · ¶ opens the paragraph · 4 Sept 2026 · Report a problem
Full text
Text 18 paragraphs
B100335/2025
Motion for a European Parliament resolution on urgent need to protect religious minorities in Syria, following the recent terrorist attack on the Mar Elias church in Damascus
(2025/2798(RSP))
The European Parliament,
–having regard to Rule 150 of its Rules of Procedure,
A.whereas Syria´s different ethnic and religious groups have a long history and tradition of peaceful coexistence; whereas the Assad dynasty preserved its power through systematic sectarian and religious division, patronage and violence;
B.whereas the overall security situation in Syria is volatile and violent events, notably sectarian violence such as the attack on St. Elias Church in Damascus in June 2025, the massacre in the Alawite- dominated coastal region in March 2025, and the clashes between government-affiliated forces and Druze militias in May 2025, are increasing;
1.Strongly condemns all violent attacks in Syria, notably those targeting particular ethnic and religious groups, killing over a thousand innocent civilians, fuelling further violence and sowing distrust between the various segments of Syrian society and ultimately undermining the country´s peaceful transition; expresses its solidarity with all victims, their families and loved ones;
2.Calls for all actors across the country to cease violent acts and respect international humanitarian and human rights law at all times;
3.Is concerned about Syria´s fragile security situation which undermines efforts to unite, reconcile, and rebuild Syria following over five decades of brutal Assad rule, including 14 years of war;
4.Calls on the Syrian interim authorities to transparently and impartially investigate all acts of violence, including intimidation and sectarian hate speech, hold perpetrators to account and increase its efforts for peace, dignity and justice which are essential to the Syrian people;
5.Calls on the Syrian interim authorities to increase efforts to rein in violent factions, curb the trafficking of illegal weapons and protect all Syrians - regardless of their ethnicity or religion - from violence and ensure their right to live in safety;
Read the rest (6 paragraphs)
6.Reiterates the importance of Syria´s territorial integrity to provide all segments of Syrian society with a stable and peaceful framework;
7.Calls on the EU to convey to its Syrian counterparts that transitional justice - past and present - remains at the core of the EU´s commitment to supporting Syria´s transition, economic recovery, and stabilisation;
8.Reiterates that Syria is not a safe country for the return of refugees and asylum seekers in Europe and around the world; reiterates the EU´s position that any return needs to be truly voluntary, safe and dignified in line with international law;
9.Welcomes the lifting of EU sanctions, the humanitarian response as well as the announced 175 € million for the social and economic recovery;
10.Underscores the indispensable contribution of Syrian civil society, notably women-led initiatives, to advancing an inclusive and just political transition; calls on the European Commission to give priority to holding the “Day of Dialogue Conference” with Syrian civil society as soon as possible, closely involving CSOs in the preparation, implementation and follow-up;
11.Instructs its President to forward this resolution to the Council, the Commission, the Vice-President of the Commission / High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, the interim-government of Syria;