The EU will not join an Arab League-led campaign to re-engage Syria but is open to supporting its diplomatic efforts to achieve a political solution after more than a decade of conflict.
“We are not in the same line as the Arab League. That's clear,” said EU foreign chief Josep Borrell on Thursday as he responded to a question from The National during a press conference in Brussels on the second day of the seventh donor conference in support of Syria and neighbouring countries.
“But it doesn't mean we will not explore possibilities for improving the situation in [Syria]. We are trying to work together with the Arab League, and combining the pressure we can do from our position and the reach-out the Arab League can do from their new position.
“If the Arab League believes that this new policy can bring some results, we can support them – but [while] keeping our position.”
Mr Borrell comments came shortly after he told senior Arab officials in a speech that the EU would not change its policy on Syria and was, to the contrary, toughening sanctions against Damascus.
The Spanish diplomat expressed doubt that a political solution to the conflict could be found soon.
“Progress seems to have stalled completely,” he said.
The end of the status quo
Arab officials said their attempts to re-engage Damascus were a direct consequence of the stalled political progress described by Mr Borrell.
“Status quo politics will not work. Doubling down on old positions will not work,” said Jordan’s Foreign Minister Ayman Safadi.
“So, what we did in the Arab world – we assumed leadership in efforts to find a solution to the Syrian crisis.”
The UN’s special envoy for Syria, Geir Pederson, said he would be taking notes of future results of intensified diplomatic efforts between Arab countries, Turkey and Syria.
“We’ll see whether this new engagement can be a circuit breaker for some political progress,” said Mr Pederson. “This will require pragmatism, realism and frankness from all sides.”
Mr Borrell also said that Europe would evaluate, “very soon”, whether these diplomatic efforts have been able to convince Damascus “to engage in a dialogue with Gulf and Arab states over various aspects of UN Security Council resolution 2254”.
Adopted in 2015, four years after the start of Syria’s bloody civil war, the resolution calls for a ceasefire and a political settlement.
Mr Safadi highlighted that it was imperative to act now.
“At the end of the day, we, in the neighbourhood, are the most affected,” he said, pointing to drug trafficking at the Syrian-Jordanian border.
His Iraqi counterpart Fuad Hussein also defended the Arab League’s decision to invite Syrian President Bashar Al Assad back to the Arab League at a summit in Saudi Arabia last month.
Syria had been suspended after the brutality of its repression against demonstrators in 2011.
“The return of Syria to the Arab League is part of the policy that must be applied to find a solution to the Syrian crisis,” said Mr Hussein.
Arab and Turkish dignitaries focused a large part of their intervention on calling for refugee returns.
International community disengagement
They argued that their presence caused too much of a strain on local infrastructure and that western countries were not helping them enough.
“We believe that the international community should take more responsibility not only financially but also through other legal pathways for refugees,” said Turkey’s ambassador to the EU, Faruk Kaymakci.
“The burden is shifting on us alone,” said Mr Safadi. “This year, the international funding to our response plan stands at a mere 6.8 per cent. Last year, it stood at 3.3 per cent, compared to almost 70 per cent in 2016. You can see the trajectory.”
Lebanon’s Foreign Minister Abdallah Bou Habib estimated the cost of hosting refugees for his country at $5 billion by next year.
On behalf of the EU, Mr Borrell announced the first pledge of the day – €560 million ($607 million) for 2024, down from €1.5 billion ($1.6 billion) in 2023. Further pledges are expected in the afternoon.
Speaking in a pre-recorded video, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said the UN was asking for $11.1 billion for the Syrian people.
“We have no time to spare,” said Mr Guterres. “Food or cash assistance will run out for 2.5 million Syrians next month alone.”
The conference laid bare further disagreements between the EU and Arab states on how to deal with Syrian refugees.
Mr Borrell criticised Lebanon for forcibly returning Syrians to their home country, describing such procedures as “completely ineffective”.
“At the same time, I understand that Lebanon requires more support. If you compare the living situations of [the] local population and refugees, both are bad,” he said.
Human rights organisations have accused Lebanon of forcibly returning Syrians to a country that is still deemed unsafe for returnees by the UN.
The National has previously spoken to Syrians in Lebanon who have described being “kidnapped” and forced to return.
In his speech, Mr Bou Habib dismissed such accusations, saying Lebanon did not use “coercion to force refugees to return” and “consistently adheres to humanitarian law”.
Mohammed bin Zayed Majlis
UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The%C2%A0specs%20
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Zayed Sustainability Prize
At Eternity’s Gate
Director: Julian Schnabel
Starring: Willem Dafoe, Oscar Isaacs, Mads Mikkelsen
Three stars
Why your domicile status is important
Your UK residence status is assessed using the statutory residence test. While your residence status – ie where you live - is assessed every year, your domicile status is assessed over your lifetime.
Your domicile of origin generally comes from your parents and if your parents were not married, then it is decided by your father. Your domicile is generally the country your father considered his permanent home when you were born.
UK residents who have their permanent home ("domicile") outside the UK may not have to pay UK tax on foreign income. For example, they do not pay tax on foreign income or gains if they are less than £2,000 in the tax year and do not transfer that gain to a UK bank account.
A UK-domiciled person, however, is liable for UK tax on their worldwide income and gains when they are resident in the UK.
EA Sports FC 26
Publisher: EA Sports
Consoles: PC, PlayStation 4/5, Xbox Series X/S
Rating: 3/5
What are the influencer academy modules?
- Mastery of audio-visual content creation.
- Cinematography, shots and movement.
- All aspects of post-production.
- Emerging technologies and VFX with AI and CGI.
- Understanding of marketing objectives and audience engagement.
- Tourism industry knowledge.
- Professional ethics.
Labour dispute
The insured employee may still file an ILOE claim even if a labour dispute is ongoing post termination, but the insurer may suspend or reject payment, until the courts resolve the dispute, especially if the reason for termination is contested. The outcome of the labour court proceedings can directly affect eligibility.
- Abdullah Ishnaneh, Partner, BSA Law
Ferrari 12Cilindri specs
Engine: naturally aspirated 6.5-liter V12
Power: 819hp
Torque: 678Nm at 7,250rpm
Price: From Dh1,700,000
Available: Now
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
More on animal trafficking
Living in...
This article is part of a guide on where to live in the UAE. Our reporters will profile some of the country’s most desirable districts, provide an estimate of rental prices and introduce you to some of the residents who call each area home.
Suggested picnic spots
Abu Dhabi
Umm Al Emarat Park
Yas Gateway Park
Delma Park
Al Bateen beach
Saadiyaat beach
The Corniche
Zayed Sports City
Dubai
Kite Beach
Zabeel Park
Al Nahda Pond Park
Mushrif Park
Safa Park
Al Mamzar Beach Park
Al Qudrah Lakes
Top 5 concerns globally:
1. Unemployment
2. Spread of infectious diseases
3. Fiscal crises
4. Cyber attacks
5. Profound social instability
Top 5 concerns in the Mena region
1. Energy price shock
2. Fiscal crises
3. Spread of infectious diseases
4. Unmanageable inflation
5. Cyber attacks
Source: World Economic Foundation
COMPANY PROFILE
Name: Qyubic
Started: October 2023
Founder: Namrata Raina
Based: Dubai
Sector: E-commerce
Current number of staff: 10
Investment stage: Pre-seed
Initial investment: Undisclosed
The specs
Engine: 4.0-litre V8 twin-turbocharged and three electric motors
Power: Combined output 920hp
Torque: 730Nm at 4,000-7,000rpm
Transmission: 8-speed dual-clutch automatic
Fuel consumption: 11.2L/100km
On sale: Now, deliveries expected later in 2025
Price: expected to start at Dh1,432,000
Dhadak 2
Director: Shazia Iqbal
Starring: Siddhant Chaturvedi, Triptii Dimri
Rating: 1/5
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In-demand jobs and monthly salaries
- Technology expert in robotics and automation: Dh20,000 to Dh40,000
- Energy engineer: Dh25,000 to Dh30,000
- Production engineer: Dh30,000 to Dh40,000
- Data-driven supply chain management professional: Dh30,000 to Dh50,000
- HR leader: Dh40,000 to Dh60,000
- Engineering leader: Dh30,000 to Dh55,000
- Project manager: Dh55,000 to Dh65,000
- Senior reservoir engineer: Dh40,000 to Dh55,000
- Senior drilling engineer: Dh38,000 to Dh46,000
- Senior process engineer: Dh28,000 to Dh38,000
- Senior maintenance engineer: Dh22,000 to Dh34,000
- Field engineer: Dh6,500 to Dh7,500
- Field supervisor: Dh9,000 to Dh12,000
- Field operator: Dh5,000 to Dh7,000
At a glance
Global events: Much of the UK’s economic woes were blamed on “increased global uncertainty”, which can be interpreted as the economic impact of the Ukraine war and the uncertainty over Donald Trump’s tariffs.
Growth forecasts: Cut for 2025 from 2 per cent to 1 per cent. The OBR watchdog also estimated inflation will average 3.2 per cent this year
Welfare: Universal credit health element cut by 50 per cent and frozen for new claimants, building on cuts to the disability and incapacity bill set out earlier this month
Spending cuts: Overall day-to day-spending across government cut by £6.1bn in 2029-30
Tax evasion: Steps to crack down on tax evasion to raise “£6.5bn per year” for the public purse
Defence: New high-tech weaponry, upgrading HM Naval Base in Portsmouth
Housing: Housebuilding to reach its highest in 40 years, with planning reforms helping generate an extra £3.4bn for public finances
HIJRA
Starring: Lamar Faden, Khairiah Nathmy, Nawaf Al-Dhufairy
Director: Shahad Ameen
Rating: 3/5
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Oppenheimer
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