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.

“We want this conflict not to be forgotten, we want the people of Syria not to be forgotten, in a moment when the international community seems to care a little bit less about this. We gather here so many from all around the world to say that we have to keep focused on a political solution for the conflict in Syria. It is not over yet, people need our support,” High Representative Federica Mogherini told the press ahead of the ministerial segment of the Brussels III Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region”.

On 12 and 13 March over a thousand between representatives of international and regional NGOs, Syrian civil society, EU and UN officials gathered in the European Parliament in Brussels to discuss topics ranging from protection to justice and social cohesion. The “Days of Dialogue” were followed by a Ministerial meeting on Thursday with over 80 delegations and 55 countries present. The Brussels III Conference was co-chaired by the European Union and the UN.

The aim of the Conference remained to keep Syria and the Syrian people on top of the international agenda, renew the support to the UN-lead political process and mobilise international financial support for Syrians, for humanitarian aid both inside the country and in the neighbouring countries.

The conference raised a record figure of €6.2 billion in pledges for 2019, and €2.1 billion for 2020 and beyond to meet the needs of Syrians and neighbouring countries. Two thirds of the overall pledge come from the European Union. Since 2011, over €17 billion were mobilised by the European Union and Member States alone  to support Syrian people inside and outside of Syria since the beginning of the crisis, with both political and humanitarian support.