European Union: Ready to cooperate with the new Syrian government

The European Union welcomed the formation of a new government in Syria on Monday, affirming its readiness to cooperate with it to address the challenges ahead.

A statement issued by the EU’s foreign policy chief, Kaja Kallas, and several European commissioners stated that the bloc stands ready to work with the new government to support it in facing the difficult circumstances the country is experiencing.

For his part, Syrian transitional President Ahmad al Sharaa emphasized that the new government formation reflects the diversity of Syrian society, far removed from any approach based on quotas. He also noted the difficulty of satisfying all parties.

Ahmad al Sharaa announced a 23-minister government on Saturday evening without appointing a prime minister, sparking mixed reactions.

Although this government was more inclusive than the caretaker government that has run the country since the overthrow of Bashar al Assad more than three months ago, its formation faced criticism, particularly from the Kurdish autonomous administration, which considered the new government to be still under the control of a single party, stressing that it “isn’t concerned with implementing its decisions… We sought to choose competent people without political quotas”.

In a speech delivered after performing Eid al Fitr prayers at the People’s Palace, al Sharaa emphasized that the new government comprises competent and experienced individuals, regardless of their ideological or political affiliations, emphasizing that the primary goal is to rebuild the nation.

He added, “We were keen to expand geographic representation and take into account societal diversity… We rejected the principle of quotas, but we sought to achieve broader participation in the selection of ministers”.

He also acknowledged that complete consensus on any government decisions is difficult to achieve, saying, “We’ll not be able to satisfy everyone, and this is a natural matter, but we must reach the minimum possible understandings”.

He noted that Syria faces a long and arduous road to recovery, but possesses all the elements that qualify it to rise again.

The new government seeks to complete its efforts to unify the country after more than 14 years of bloody conflict, amidst significant challenges related to reassuring the various components of Syrian society and gaining the trust of the international community, particularly regarding the issue of sanctions imposed on the country.

Ahmad al Sharaa, who assumed office last January, announced that the transitional period in Syria would last for five years, ending with elections under a new constitution, a move aimed at restructuring the country’s political landscape.