EU promises 560m euros to support Syrians in neighboring countries
QAMISHLI, Syria (North Press) – The European Union (EU) pledged on Thursday 560 million euros to help countries neighboring Syria to cope with the costs of hosting Syrian refugees.
The EU foreign policy chief Josep Borrell emphasized, as he announced the pledge at an international donors’ conference in Brussels, that the aid was for Syrians, not the Syrian government led by President Bashar al-Assad.
The EU organized the 7th Brussels Conference on “Supporting the Future of Syria and the Region” on Wednesday and Thursday in Brussels.
The conference represents a significant opportunity to express solidarity and commitment to the people most affected by the Syrian crisis.
More than 12 million Syrians were displaced by the conflict, most of them inside Syria, though with 5.4 million living as refugees in neighboring countries, according to the UN.
Borrell stated that even though the UN has been making efforts, the EU is not yet ready to revise its policy towards Syria. This would only be possible if the country undergoes significant political reforms.
He stressed that the EU will maintain its sanctions on the Syrian government and not support the return of Syrians home unless they are “voluntary”, safe and monitored by international groups.