Istanbul - The European Parliament has urged the European Union (EU) to find ways to use frozen assets belonging to the Assad regime to finance Syria's reconstruction.
"The European Parliament calls on the European Union to explore legal avenues for the use of the Assad regime's frozen assets for a trust fund to support reconstruction, rehabilitation and compensation for victims in Syria," reads the resolution adopted Tuesday on "the need for EU support for a just transition and reconstruction in Syria."
The European Parliament also welcomed the European Commission's €235 million (around Rp4.2 trillion) in aid for the Syrian people, while calling for continued humanitarian and development support, including for neighboring countries hosting refugees.
"The European Parliament is deeply concerned about the termination of all USAID funding related to Syria or Syrian refugees, as well as the absence of the United States from the upcoming Brussels conference," the parliament said in a statement on the US aid and development programs being suspended by President Donald Trump.
The Parliament also urged the European Union to increase financial support for Syrian civil society organisations, stressing the importance of “civil dialogue” between ethnic, cultural and religious groups to promote “pluralism, peaceful coexistence and building trust in society.”