Eamon Gilmore (Dún Laoghaire, Labour) | Oireachtas source

The ongoing conflict in Syria was a key item on the agenda of the Foreign Affairs Council, which I attended in Luxembourg on Monday, 24 June. The Council had a thorough exchange of views on recent developments on the ground against the background of mounting casualties, with the death toll now estimated by the UN at more than 93,000, and the catastrophic humanitarian situation unfolding in Syria and in neighbouring countries. Our discussions also demonstrated the strong support and broad agreement within the Council on the urgent need to de-escalate the crisis and work to promote a political settlement.

The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy articulated the strong concern within the Council to press ahead and offer our full support to the US-Russia initiative to convene an international peace conference on Syria - Geneva II - in the near future. We all recognise that this represents the only credible opportunity at the moment to try to stop the violence and fashion a comprehensive political solution to the crisis.

The Council reiterated its collective commitment to increase EU support to the international humanitarian efforts following the recent call by the UN for an additional $5.2 billion to cover requirements to the end of 2013. The EU and its member states have so far contributed over €1.25 billion in emergency funding to address the humanitarian crisis, including an additional €400 million announced on 24 June as a response to the deteriorating situation. Ireland is playing its full part in this international effort, having contributed €9.8 million in assistance to date, including an additional €1.65 million which I announced on 19 June. Together with its EU partners, Ireland will continue its efforts to promote a peaceful resolution that finally brings about a civil, democratic and pluralistic Syria.

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