The European Union welcomed the formation of the first transitional government in Syria, pledging to help the new Syrian authorities "tackle the immense challenges ahead."
"The aspirations of all Syrians must be fulfilled, as recently underscored at the IX Brussels Syria Conference. The European Union will stand by the Syrian people, while making sure that the commitments of the new government towards a peaceful and inclusive transition are respected," the EU said in an official statement. The bloc also urged all "external actors" to respect Syria's sovereignty and territorial integrity.
Syria's transitional government, which replaced the country's interim government, was sworn in on Saturday, nearly four months after ousting Bashar al-Assad's long-standing regime.
