Supporting the future of Syria and the region

The European Union will organise a Seventh Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’ on 14 and 15 June 2023, in Brussels. The Ministerial meeting will take place on 15 June. A Day of Dialogue will be held on the preceding day bringing together civil society from Syria and beyond, decision makers, and operational partners to engage in dialogue on Syria and the region as well as on its humanitarian and resilience challenges.

The overarching objective of the Brussels Conferences is to ensure continued support to the Syrian people, both in Syria and in the wider region, by mobilising 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 was the case at previous years’ conferences, Brussels VII will equally address critical humanitarian and resilience issues affecting Syrians in Syria and neighbouring countries, and those which impact communities hosting Syrian refugees in the region. The Conference will thus renew the international community’s political and financial support for Syria’s neighbours, particularly Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, as well as Egypt and Iraq. A special Donor Conference was held earlier this year to support the people in Türkiye and Syria in the wake of February’s devastating earthquake. Brussels VII remains the main pledging event this year for Syria and all its neighbouring countries.

Through the Day of Dialogue, the Conference also provides an interactive platform for dialogue with civil society and NGOs active in Syria and the region.

All the key information and material related to the Brussels VII Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” has been assembled on this site.

All the sessions of the Conference will be live-streamed. Translation in English, Arabic, Turkish and French will be available. Links are available in the Programme section of this website.

Day of Dialogue

14 June 2023

You can follow the live stream for the Day of Dialogue here.

Day of Dialogue

European Parliament

Paul-Henri Spaak Building

07:30 - 09:00

Arrival and accreditation

Location:

Info Hub -

Esplanade Solidarność 1980

Badge collection at Info Hub

(After 11:00, badges will be available at the Accreditation Centre)

Location:

Simone Veil Entrance -

Esplanade Solidarność 1980

Entrance to the European Parliament Hemicycle

Welcome coffee

09:00 – 09:15

Opening Session

Location: European

Parliament Hemicycle

Statement by Mr Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management (DG ECHO) 

Statement by Mr Gert Jan Koopman, Director General (DG NEAR)

9:15 - 10:00

Perspectives from the region on civil society consultations

 

Moderator: Mr Ali Al-Jaberi

Rapporteur for Ministerial: Ms Roula Al-Rokbi, Country Director, Women Now for Development

Location: European Parliament Hemicycle

Panelists:

·         Ms Maryam Atallah, Founder, Syrian Pioneer NGO

·         Ms Stéphanie Abboud, Acting Programs Manager, ALEF – Act for Human Rights.

·         Mr Agyead Abo Zayed, Journalist, Community Media Network/Radio Al-Balad

·         Ms Najat Rochdi, UN Deputy Special Envoy for Syria

Ms Henrike Trautmann, Acting Director of the Neighbourhood South and Türkiye Directorate (DG NEAR)

10:00 - 11:15

First panel discussion: Addressing basic needs, access to basic services and Early Recovery in the Syrian context

 

Moderator: Mr Ali Al-Jaberi

Rapporteur for Ministerial: Ms Amany Qaddour, Regional Director at Syria Relief and Development

 

Panelists:

·         Ms Adele Khodr, Regional director of UNICEF office in the Middle East and North Africa

·         Mr Moutaz Adham, Syria Country director, OXFAM

·         Mr Michael Talhami, Regional Water and Habitat Adviser for the Near and Middle East, International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)

·         Ms Nirvana Shawky, Regional Director for Middle East and North Africa, CARE

·         Mr Fadi Al-Dairi, Country Director, Hand in Hand for Aid & Development (HIHFAD)

Remarks by Mr Andreas Papaconstantinou, Director Neighbourhood & Middle East (DG ECHO)

11:15 - 11:45

Coffee break – Location: Hemicycle Bar & Antechambers

11:45 - 13:00

Second panel discussion: Developing opportunities at the local level: empowering and protecting local leadership

 

Moderator: Dr Rim Turkmani, Director of Syria research group, London School of Economics (LSE)

Rapporteur for Ministerial: Ms Rola Baghdadi, Executive Director, Dawlaty

Location: European Parliament Hemicycle

Panelists:

·         Mr Mouhamad Hassno, CEO, Assistance Coordination Unit (ACU)

·         Mr Bhajjat Hajjar, Executive Director, Local Administration Councils Unit (LACU)

·         Ms Houda Atassi, Regional Director, International Humanitarian Relief (IHR)

·         Mr Ibrahim Olabi, Board Member, Syrian Legal Development Programme (SLDP)

Mr Per Örneus, Special Envoy to Syria, Sweden

13:00-14:30

Lunch break – Location: 3Q space EXPO, Antall building

14:30 - 16:00

Third panel discussion: Furthering justice and accountability for the Syrian people - state of play of ongoing efforts by civil society, international organisations and national jurisdictions and the way forward

 

Moderator: Mr Mohammed al-Abdallah, Executive Director of the Syria Justice and Accountability Centre (SJAC)

Rapporteur at the Ministerial: Ms Mariana Karkoutly, Syrian human rights activist, Senior Fellow at Humanity in Action

Location: European Parliament Hemicycle

Panelists:

·         Ms Catherine Marchi-Uhel, Head of the International, Impartial and Independent Mechanism (IIIM) for Syria

·         Ms Sophie Havard, First Deputy Prosecutor Specialized Unit for Crimes against Humanity and War Crimes at the French National Counterterrorism Prosecution Office   

·         Dr Patrick Kroker, Senior Legal Advisor in the International Crimes and Accountability program at the European Centre for Constitutional and Human Rights (ECCHR)

·         Ms Wafa Mustafa, Syrian Activist, journalist, and Non-Resident Fellow at the Tahrir Institute for Middle East Policy (TIMEP) and Refugees International

Ms Noura Ghazi-Safadi, Syrian Human Rights Lawyer, Co-Founder and Director of Nophotozone, and Founding Member of Families for Freedom

16:00- 16:30

Coffee break - Location: Hemicycle Bar & Antechambers

16:30 - 17:30

Concluding session

Location: European Parliament Hemicycle

  • Presentation of the outcome of the online survey by Mr Ian Larson, Senior Analyst, Center for Operational Analysis and Research (COAR)
  • Conclusions from rapporteurs
  • Closing statement by Mr Michael Köhler, Deputy Director-General, DG ECHO

Closing statement by Ms Hélène Le Gal, Managing Director for Middle East and North Africa (EEAS)

17:30 - 20:00

Reception - Location: 3Q space EXPO, Antall building

Ministerial Conference

15 June 2023

9:00 – 11:00 – OPENING AND MORNING PLENARY SESSION

(you can follow this session here)

Opening Address by the Conference Chair: Mr Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Policy and Vice-President of the European Commission

Opening Address Video by the UN: Secretary-General António Guterres

Opening addresses by countries hosting the largest numbers of Syrian refugees in the region

-         H.E. Mr Ayman Safadi, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs and Expatriates Jordan

-          H.E. Mr Fuad Hussein, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Foreign Affairs Iraq

-          H.E. Mr Abdallah Bou Habib, Minister for Foreign Affairs Lebanon

-         H.E. Dr. Badr Abdelatty, Ambassador Egypt

-          H.E. Mr Faruk Kaymackci, Ambassador Türkiye

Restitution by Civil Society Panels Rapporteurs

-          Ms Roula Al-Rekbie

-          Ms Amany Qaddour

-          Ms Roula Baghdadi

-          Ms Mariana Karkoutly

Keynote speaker Mr Geir Pedersen, UN Special Envoy for Syria

11:00 – 11:15 – FAMILY PHOTO
11:15 – 12:00 – PRESS CONFERENCE (HRVP)

(you can follow the press conference here)

12:00 – 13:30 – LUNCH BREAK
13:30 – 15:00 – AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION (Part I)

(you can follow this session here)

Opening speech by the Chair: Mr Oliver Várhelyi, European Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement

Keynote speakers:

-          Ms Sawsan Zakzak, Representative of Syrian Women Advisory Group WAB

-          Mr Filippo Grandi, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

-          Ms Ulrika Modeer, UNDP Assistant Secretary-General and Director of the Bureau of External Relations and Advocacy

Statements and announcements of pledges by participating delegations (in protocol order)

15:00 – 15:15 – COFFEE BREAK
15:15 – 17:00 – AFTERNOON PLENARY SESSION (Part II)

(you can follow this session here)

Opening speech by the Chair: Mr Janez Lenarčič, European Commissioner for Crisis Management

Keynote Speakers:

-          Mr Bahjat Hajjar, Representative of Civil Society Support Room CSSR

-          Ms Joyce Msuya, UN Assistant Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Deputy Emergency Relief Coordinator

Statements and announcements of pledges by participating delegations (in protocol order)

17:00 – 17:15 – COFFEE BREAK
17:15 – 17:20 – CONCLUDING REMARKS

(you can follow this session here)

Chair: Commissioner Janez Lenarčič - Concluding remarks and final pledge announcement by the chair

Cultural agenda

Hakawati : telling stories from Syria

In the framework of the Brussels VII Conference, the EU has tailored a rich cultural event programme as an opportunity to shed light on Syrian culture and arts and taking place in Brussels between 12-19 June. “Hakawati”- an Arabic word which translates to “storyteller” as a revival of an ancient tradition in the region - brings together Syrian visual artists, performers, writers and musicians to share their stories as well as visions for today and for the future.

The programme includes: 3 film screenings, 2 photo-exhibitions, 3 “storytelling nights” with exceptional guests and a closing concert. A full description can be found here.

Hakawati cultural programme of the VII Brussels Conference

Side events

Numerous side events take place in the margins of the Brussels VII 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 VII 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.

Side events agenda

Page Updated:
09.03.2023