The Brussels Conference keeps the Syrian conflict at the top of the international agenda
Main results
The European Union and the United Nations co-chaired the fourth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region”, which took place from 22 to 30 June 2020. In light of the necessary social distancing measures, the Conference was held in a virtual format.
80 countries, international organisations, the EU and UN agencies came together to participate in the international conference and in its high level ministerial segment on Tuesday 30 June.
The Brussels Conference keeps the Syrian conflict at the top of the international agenda. We must do more to end the suffering of the Syrian people. First and foremost, we need a political solution to the crisis.: It is time to unlock the Geneva talks, forge a political solution and bring an inclusive peace to Syria. We will also continue to respond to persisting enormous humanitarian needs.
Josep Borrell Fontelles, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Vice-President of the Commission
The conference succeeded in mobilising aid to Syrians inside the country and in the neighbouring countries, including for hosting communities, through pledges totalling US$ 5.5 billion (€4.9 billion) for 2020, and multi-year pledges of close to US$ 2.2 billon (€2 billion) for 2021 and beyond.
The co-chairs adopted a joint declaration:
The high level of participation conveys a message to Syrians, wherever they are, that the world has not forgotten them and the world will stand by them. That is important in the current circumstances where the conflict is nearly 10 years old.
Mark Lowcock, UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs and Emergency Relief Coordinator
With the conflict entering its 10th year, the situation in Syria and the region remains highly critical: the dire humanitarian situation, with millions of Syrians internally displaced and having sought refuge in Syria's neighbouring countries, is now being further compounded by the consequences of COVID-19 pandemic.
In this context, Brussels IV was an opportunity to gather all relevant actors to effectively address the current situation, offer continued support to UN efforts for a comprehensive political solution to the Syrian conflict, mobilise necessary financial support for Syria and neighbouring countries hosting Syrian refugees, as well as pursuing and deepening our dialogue with civil society.
The Conference also highlighted the importance of the solidarity shown by host countries and communities in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey, as well as other host countries in the region such as Egypt and Iraq while underlining the challenges they face in the medium and long term.
Brussels IV Ministerial Conference Programme - 30 June 2020
10:00 Opening ceremony
11:00 First plenary session
12:30 Press Conference
14:30 Second plenary session
16:15 Third plenary session
17:45 Pledge announcement
Days of Dialogue
The Days of Dialogue took place on 22 and 23 June and were web-streamed. The event brought together civil society, NGOs, international organisations, refugee-hosting countries, the EU and the UN community.
Please check the links in the timeline below for recordings of the live webstreams.
Voices from Syria and the Region is a virtual exhibition featuring photos and videos of Syrians, Jordanians, Lebanese and Iraqis whose lives have been suspended by the war in Syria.
Side events
Numerous side events took place on the margins of the Brussels IV Conference, initiated and organised by civil society organisations, participating countries, the EU and the UN and international organisations.
22/06/2020
Days of Dialogue
Panel 1
Building Syria’s future: the role of women, youth and civil society
Panel 2
Regional response and recovery in the face of coronavirus
23/06/2020
10:00Panel 3
Protecting and supporting Syria’s displaced population
Panel 4
Immediate needs in the response to the humanitarian situation (aid, health, protection)
24/06/2020
Brussels IV side events
Organised by EU Member States, UN agencies and other official partners
Including women in building the future of Syria: imagining a feminist peace
Sweden
The fallout of war: the regional consequences of the conflict in Syria
The World Bank
Concert in the margins of the Brussels IV Conference
BOZAR
25/06/2020
09:30Building the future: the crucial role of young people and mental health and psychosocial support in the Syria crisis response
Germany - The Netherlands
Resilience in Syria’s neighbouring countries: lessons learned and durable solutions
UNDP - Finland
Syria resilience support: from life-saving to life-sustaining
United Kingdom
26/06/2020
09:00Children of Al-Hol: why protecting children's rights matters
European Parliament
Ensuring accountability and civilian protection in Syria
USA
29/06/2020
10:00For the future of Syria: addressing the situation of detained and missing persons
Switzerland - ICRC
Protecting, educating and listening to the voice of Syria’s children, adolescents and young people
No Lost Generation - Luxembourg
Children of Syria - Bearing the brunt of 9 years of war
Belgium
Changes in socio-economic outcomes since COVID-19 for Syrian refugees and host communities: a discussion of methodologies and initial results
UNHCR - World Bank
Conversations in the margins of the Brussels IV Conference
BOZAR
30/06/2020
Brussels IV Ministerial Conference
Opening ceremony
First plenary session
Press conference
Second plenary session
Third plenary session
Pledge announcement
Virtual civil society consultations
In light of the social distancing measures in place in Europe and the Middle East, this year's consultations with civil society organisations active in Syria, Jordan, Lebanon, Turkey and elsewhere in the region were held online ahead of the conference.
The aim of these consultations is to gather recommendations on key issues affecting the Syrian people and their possible solutions, so to streamline the international community’s response to the conflict and mobilise the necessary resources. These recommendations will feed into the Ministerial event on 30 June.
An online survey was launched and remained open for two weeks – from 28 May to 8 June – to gather recommendations from a wide array of civil society stakeholders.
The contributions to the online survey, together with the targeted discussions with EU and UN’s local partners in Syria and the region constitute the backbone of these consultations.
Moreover, an online repository of civil society and other relevant stakeholders’ reports, policy papers, and other written material relevant to the Brussels IV Conference is being compiled. The repository will be publicly accessible from this webpage.
If you would like to have your organisation's recent report featured in our repository, please send the file (no larger than 2MB) to the contact email address below.
Syria's humanitarian crisis: facts and figures
The humanitarian impact of the Syria crisis remains deep and far-reaching:
- 11.1 million in need of humanitarian assistance
- 6.5 million are food insecure
- more than 12 million have been displaced inside and outside Syria
- 1 in 3 schools are damaged or destroyed
- 50% of all health facilities are closed or partially functioning
Background information
Previous conferences
The 2019 Brussels conference succeeded in mobilising assistance to Syrians inside the country and in the neighbouring countries, including for hosting communities. The EU and international donors pledged:
- € 6.2 billion for 2019
- € 2.4 billion for 2020 and beyond
In 2018 donors pledged:
- € 3.5 billion for 2018
- € 2.7 billion for 2019-2020
In 2017:
- € 5.6 billion in aid for 2017
- € 3.47 billion in aid for 2018-2020
The EU’s response to the Syrian crisis
Since the outbreak of the conflict in 2011, the EU and its Member States have mobilised over €20 billion in humanitarian aid and stabilisation assistance. They are the top donors in Syria and the region.
The EU remains committed to finding a sustainable political solution to the conflict in Syria under the existing UN-agreed framework.
As set out in Council conclusions adopted on 3 April 2017, the EU considers that there can be no military solution to the conflict and strongly supports the work of the UN Special Envoy and the intra-Syrian talks in Geneva.
The Council adopted the EU strategy on Syria on 3 April 2017, ahead of the first Brussels conference. It outlines the EU's strategic objectives in Syria in six key areas.
For more information
- EU support inside Syria (EC factsheet)
- EU support in Jordan (EC factsheet)
- EU support in Lebanon (EC factsheet)
- EU support in Turkey (EC factsheet)
- Syria: Council response to the crisis (background information)
- Infographic on the EU and the crisis in Syria (EEAS)
- EU Delegation to Syria (EEAS)
- EU Regional Trust Fund in Response to the Syrian crisis
