Med 9th Summit calls for political solution in Syria, refugees' safe return

The Med 9th Summit of Southern European Countries was held on Monday in the coastal city of Portorož, Slovenia, under the slogan "Slovenia Is in the Mediterranean's Center." The summit brought together nine European Union countries bordering the Mediterranean; Slovenia, France, Spain, Italy, Portugal, Greece, Croatia, Malta, and Cyprus. In addition, King Abdullah II of Jordan also participated by official invitation.

The final statement of the summit, in which the leaders of the nine countries participated, along with European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen and King Abdullah II of Jordan, emphasized the importance of strengthening international efforts to create conditions conducive to the safe, voluntary, and sustainable return of Syrian refugees, according to the Syrian Transitional Government's official news agency, SANA.

The summit's final statement also focused on "the importance of reaching a political process that preserves the rights of all Syrians."

The leaders also expressed their support for the roadmap reached between Syria, Jordan, and the United States regarding Sweida in the south of the country, stressing the importance of regional and international cooperation to ensure the success of this initiative and achieve stability in the region.

The Med 9th Summit is considered a platform that brings together the Southern European Union countries surrounding the Mediterranean to discuss common regional and European issues. These countries included, Cyprus, Spain, France, Greece, Slovenia, Italy, Malta, Portugal, and Croatia.

J.J