Franse minister BZ Fabius: een Europese strategie voor de Sahelregio nodig (en)

French foreign minister Laurent Fabius i discussed the situation in Syria and the Sahel with members of the EP i's foreign affairs committee in Strasbourg on 18 April. We met him after the debate to ask him what the EU should do to help in these conflict areas.

What do you think of the European intervention in Mali? Does this show there is a need for closer military cooperation at the European level?

Some excellent things have already been done, by every member state contributing to the intervention and by Europe providing training for the Malian army through the European Union training mission in Mali. There is also all the support Europe provides by giving humanitarian aid and preparing the donors conference on economic development. Everything we can now do to better coordinate ourselves and have a comprehensive approach to the Sahel would be good.

How should the EU get involved with the conflict in Syria according to you?

The EU is currently mainly involved in providing humanitarian assistance and this is something that's very useful as there is a great need for this. In addition to that, we are also discussing Syria at the political level, which I hope will bear fruit.