The European Union (EU) has decided to intensify contacts with the new Syrian authorities, including through humanitarian channels, EU European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced at the press conference held after the EU summit.

The EU has decided to intensify contacts with the new Syrian authorities and all the players in the arena. The EU ambassador is returning to Damascus, and the EU intends to also use its humanitarian contacts, which have never been interrupted—although the EU has always been committed to the principle of "no contact with the Assad government," said the head of the European Commission.

Von der Leyen added that the EU intends to actively use humanitarian aid in its relations with Syria, including the aid that is collected through international conferences of aid donors.