The European Commission’s handling of the Syrian crisis this past weekend has cast doubt on its impartiality and commitment to protecting religious minorities in the region. Brussels’ March 8th statement delivered by Anouar El-Anoun accuses “pro-Assad elements” of carrying out offensives against civilians. It sparked a wave of criticism for its blatant omission of the atrocities committed by jihadist forces against Christian, Druze, and Alawite communities.
According to reports from the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights, a London-based NGO, the current authorities’ security forces have executed more than 1,000 civilians since the escalation began last Thursday, many of them women and children.
Despite these reports, the European Union has doubled down on its version of events and reiterated its “strong condemnation” of the alleged offensive by elements affiliated with the former Syrian government. In its statement, the supranational body calls for the protection of civilians and respect for international humanitarian law. However, it fails to mention the crimes currently being carried out by the region’s new Islamist rulers.
The European Union strongly condemns the recent attacks, reportedly by pro-Assad elements, on interim government forces in the coastal areas of Syria and all violence against civilians.
— European External Action Service – EEAS 🇪🇺 (@eu_eeas) March 8, 2025
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This stance has fostered a perception that Brussels is aligned with Turkish-backed jihadist groups, which recently overthrew Bashar al-Assad’s government. Meanwhile, Russia has opened the doors of its military base to accommodate refugees, in contrast to EU inaction.
In December 2024, Kaja Kallas—EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy—urged insurgent groups to respect a “peaceful and inclusive transition.”. However, this appeal has been labeled as naïve, given the jihadist nature of the new Syrian authorities. Kallas has emphasized the need to avoid acts of revenge and ensure the protection of all religious and ethnic minorities in Syria. Officials said they would “judge the new regime by its actions.” It took less than a month for the regime to reveal its true nature.
In this context, the leader of Hayat Tahrir al-Sham (HTS), Ahmed al-Sharaa, formerly known as Abu Mohammed al-Joulani, has held multiple meetings with European representatives. The most notable was with Germany’s Foreign Minister, Annalena Baerbock, who visited Syria in early January to engage in dialogue with the new authorities. This meeting has been criticized, as some observers argue that it legitimizes a group with a history of Islamic extremism.
Baerbock’s visit to Damascus, accompanied by her French counterpart Jean-Noël Barrot, was intended to promote a peaceful transition and support regional stability. Both ministers expressed willingness to collaborate with the new Syrian authorities, provided that human rights are respected and all communities are included in the political process. The leader of HTS did not even shake their hands because they were women.
However, the situation on the ground reveals growing concerns about the safety of religious minorities. Recent reports indicate that Christian, Druze, and Alawite communities are being persecuted and subjected to violence by jihadist forces. The EU’s failure to condemn these atrocities has been interpreted as an act of hypocrisy and a betrayal of the fundamental values the bloc claims to uphold.
A recently leaked statement from the HTS leader instructs members not to record any crimes that can be seen on X under the threat of punishment. At no point does he call for an end to violence and cold-blooded killings, but rather merely forbids their documentation. The objective is obvious: to leave no evidence of genocide.
On Monday, February 24, EU foreign ministers agreed to suspend sanctions imposed on key sectors of the Syrian economy, including energy, transportation, and finance. This measure aims to support the country’s economic recovery and reconstruction following the fall of Bashar al-Assad’s regime in December last year.
While the EU seeks to facilitate economic recovery, some analysts warn that removing restrictions could strengthen the new authorities without ensuring true political inclusion and respect for human rights. According to Al-Monitor, the suspension of sanctions covers strategic sectors such as oil, gas, and transportation, which could have significant implications for Syria’s economic and political dynamics.
