Marisa Matias, a member of the European Parliament, has stressed that Europe’s goal in Syria should be to preserve the unity of that country.

Matias, who is based in Brussels, is the chair of the European Parliament's delegation for relations with the Mashreq countries (Egypt, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria). In an email interview with Al-Monitor, Matias referred to a widespread misunderstanding within the EU that the Syrian conflict is of an ethnic and religious nature. She warned that such a view risks undermining the goal of a “united Syria.”

Matias said that a Syrian-led political process involving all “counterparts” was the only way to bring about a stable post-war period in Syria, and she called for the European Parliament to play its part in achieving this end. She also said that Europe should not issue judgments or evaluations on Middle Eastern countries like Syria. She voiced her support for a stronger EU role in promoting direct talks between the various parties to the Syrian conflict, saying that the EU still only plays a minor role in the Middle East as a whole.

Matias further expressed her firm belief that the EU needs to do much more when it comes to easing the burden of refugees who have fled to countries that neighbor Syria, like Lebanon and Jordan.