(Strasbourg) With a resolution adopted by a large majority (462 votes in favour, 76 against and 106 abstentions), the European Parliament in Strasbourg expressed its commitment to supporting Syria’s transitional forces, calling on the EU to promote stability in the Middle East by urging Damascus to break free from its alliances with Iran and Russia. “A historic opportunity to support a Syrian-led political transition in order to unite and rebuild the country”, underlined the MEPs who took the floor. Against the backdrop of a security situation described as “fragile”, the resolution focuses on the reunification of ethnic and religious groups, and on the involvement of Syrian women and peaceful opposition forces. Also, the European Parliament strongly condemned the recent retaliation by groups loyal to the former dictator Bashar al-Assad. The European Parliament then called on the authorities in Damascus to bring Russia’s military presence to an end, and called on neighbouring countries to respect Syria’s territorial integrity and to immediately cease all attacks and incursions. To date, the country has 500,000 internally displaced persons, with 90% of the population living below the poverty line. The vote in Strasbourg gives the green light to new humanitarian aid worth €235 million. In the background, the possibility remains for the European Union to use the frozen assets of the Assad regime to fund reconstruction, rehabilitation, and the compensation of victims.