The European Union reacted to Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad's speech, Sunday, by saying he has to step down so that it will be possible to achieve a diplomatic solution to the nearly two-year-old violence in his country. During the speech, Assad called for a mobilization against "terrorist" rebels and offered amnesty to “those who have not betrayed Syria,” adding that they would be included in the creation of a new government.

A spokesman for EU foreign policy chief Catherine Ashton issued  a short statement: "We will look carefully if there is anything new in the speech but we maintain our position that Assad has to step aside and allow for a political transition."