EU opens diplomatic channels with Syrian rebels
The EU’s high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy has instructed a senior diplomat to engage with Syria’s provisional government led by Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS) in a move to explore ties with the group that overthrew dictator Bashar al-Assad. The group remains under scrutiny due to its terrorist designation.
By employing a senior EU diplomat, Kaja Kallas is looking to advocate for a peaceful political transition in the war-torn country. The EU, however, faces the difficult question of which factions to support and which to avoid. European nations are divided over whether engaging with HTS would jeopardise the EU’s stance against terrorism and compromise its commitment to human rights.
Kallas insisted that the bloc will not yet revise the terrorist designation. HTS must first show its commitment to a stable, inclusive Syria that protects minorities. “We want to see actions, not just words,” she said. The upcoming weeks will determine if HTS can meet these expectations.
Stability and pluralism
HTS has said it wants to shift Syria from a state-controlled economy to a free-market system and has appointed a caretaker prime minister. The group’s leader, Abu Mohammed al-Jolani, has also dropped his nom de guerre to go by his legal name, Ahmed al-Sharaa, in a bid to acquire more legitimacy.
However, allegations of human rights abuses, such as executions under strict Islamic law interpretations, raise concerns about the group’s ability to ensure stability and pluralism in Syria’s diverse society.
In a recent meeting in Jordan, representatives from the EU, the US, the UK, the UN and Arab nations agreed on principles supporting Syria’s unity, territorial integrity and human rights. The US and UK are also maintaining diplomatic communication with HTS while keeping the terrorist designation.
The EU's high representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Kaja Kallas, speaks to the press before a Foreign Affairs Council meeting in Brussels © PHOTO NICOLAS TUCAT / AFP
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