Brussels: Europe and the Arabs 
Under the title of supporting the future of Syria and the region - the eighth Brussels conference will be held tomorrow, Monday, May 27, 2024.
On the eve of the meeting, a European statement quoted Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union and Vice-President of the European Commission, as saying, “This year, the conference also witnessed a day of dialogue, with the participation of Syrian civil society, on April 30 last at the headquarters of the European Parliament in Brussels; and a ministerial part.” On May 27 at the headquarters of the Council of the European Union; in addition to a number of side events and a dedicated cultural programme. With the attendance of nearly 800 participants, the Brussels conference has become over the years an invaluable opportunity to engage and deepen dialogue with Syrian civil society (from Syria, neighboring countries and the diaspora). ), key stakeholders in the United Nations and its agencies, Member States of the European Union, third countries as well as international non-governmental organizations. This event reaffirms the support of the international community for the Syrian people and for the efforts of the United Nations Special Envoy to reach a negotiated political solution to the conflict, in line with it. With UN Security Council Resolution 2254. The Ministerial Conference also aims to mobilize vital financial support to mitigate the critical needs of Syrians and their host communities in neighboring countries, especially Jordan, Lebanon and Turkey, as well as Egypt and Iraq.
At the Seventh Brussels Conference, held last June 2023, the international community pledged approximately 5.6 billion euros for the year 2023 and beyond, including more than 3.8 billion euros pledged by the European Union and its member states. The funding helps people in need inside Syria and in neighboring countries hosting Syrian refugees. The European Union and its Member States have been the largest donors supporting people in Syria and the region since the beginning of the crisis in 2011, mobilizing more than €30 billion overall.
The European Union will continue to mobilize all tools at its disposal to support a negotiated political solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254 and to help create the conditions for a better future for all Syrians.
Next Monday, European Union foreign ministers will hold a discussion on the situation in the Middle East, and will exchange views informally with the foreign ministers of Saudi Arabia, Jordan, Egypt, the United Arab Emirates and Qatar, in addition to the Secretary-General of the United Nations. And the Secretary-General of the League of Arab States. According to what was issued by the European Union institutions in Brussels regarding the upcoming ministerial meeting tomorrow, Monday, May 27, chaired by Josep Borrell, the European Union’s foreign and security policy coordinator.

According to the European Ministerial Council, the European Union foreign ministers will discuss the Russian aggression against Ukraine, after an informal exchange of views with the Minister of Foreign Affairs of Ukraine, Dmytro Kuleba, who is expected to join the beginning of the meeting via videoconference to provide updates on the latest developments on the ground and Ukraine’s current priorities.
Current affairs
The Council will also be informed of the latest developments in Venezuela, with a focus on the ongoing electoral process leading to the presidential elections on July 28, 2024, in addition to discussing the situation in Georgia.