EU to host Syria conference in Brussels next month

BRUSSELS – The European Union’s foreign policy chief says the EU will host a conference on Syria next month, following up on a meeting in London last year at which leaders pledged more than $10 billion to help fund schools, shelter and jobs for refugees.

Federica Mogherini said Monday that the conference on “supporting the future of Syria and the region” will be held in Brussels on April 5. It will be co-chaired with the United Nations and the governments of Germany, Kuwait, Norway, Qatar and Britain.

The initial aid conference was held in London in February 2016. Mogherini said one of the aims will be “checking where we are with the pledges … to support Syrians inside Syria and in the neighbouring countries.”