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A sign warning of the presence of landmines at the Afghan-Tajik border near Pyanj, Tajikistan, 6 April 2011.

Although much has already been accomplished this year, MEPs still have many important legislative files to deal with before the end of the year. The Parliament will have to decide on matters that will affect the EU and Europeans for years to come, such as the long-term budget, banking supervision, data protection and better protection for temporary workers.

Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (right) with Ake Sellström, head of the UN technical mission to investigate the possible use of chemical weapons in Syria

Syrians stream from their war-torn country into Iraq's Kurdistan region.

UN Secretary-General Ban Ki-moon (file photo).

We strongly oppose U.S. military intervention in Syria and urge the Obama administration to support increased diplomatic measures to protect civilians in the region. A United Nations investigation into the massacre of last week is still ongoing. For whoever is deemed responsible, accountability must come by way of investigation and prosecutions under international law, not further militarism in the region.

Entrance gate of Camp Ashraf

Maya Mousa is one of the thousands of Palestinian refugee children displaced along with their families due to the ongoing conflict in Syria. In July 2012, Maya escaped from Syria to resettle with her family of ten in a small house in Bourj al-Barajneh Palestine refugee camp in Lebanon.

Negotiations will still be needed to find a permanent solution for Syria despite any military action that might be taken, warned Elmar Brok, the chair of the EP’s foreign affairs committee. On behalf of the committee, he also condemned the use of chemical weapons in the war-torn country and criticised China and Russia for not doing more to help find a peaceful solution.

U.S. Secretary of State John Kerry says independent testing confirms the Syrian military used deadly sarin nerve gas on civilians in Damascus last month.