BRUSSELS/GENEVA

The EU on Thursday pledged over €2 billion ($ 2.1 billion) in support for Syrian refugees and their host communities for 2023 and 2024.

Speaking at the 7th Brussels Conference to support the future of Syria and the region, EU foreign policy chief Josep Borell called on the international community to keep offering aid for the Syrian people and neighboring countries.

He announced that the EU “will make available €560 million” for 2024 on top of the €1.5 billion support “for the benefit of Syrians in Syria, for the benefit of refugees and their host communities in the region for this calendar year of 2023.”

He commended neighboring countries Türkiye, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan that bear the “heavy burden” and continues to provide for the 7 million Syrian refugees.

Borrell stressed that the EU will keep on working with Türkiye to ensure the delivery of cross-border assistance for Syria.

He said the EU’s position towards the Assad regime remains unchanged and the bloc does not intend to normalize relations or scale down the sanctions until the regime starts implementing the UN resolutions on a comprehensive political solution.

He asserted that “the EU will not waiver its commitment” towards the “genuine political reforms” that Syria needs after more than a decade-long conflict.

During his address to the conference, Geir Pedersen, UN special envoy for Syria, said: “We are indeed at an inflection point, with renewed diplomatic attention on Syria.

“If this opportunity is seized and if players coordinate and work together, I am convinced that it is possible to move forward,” Pedersen urged.

A comprehensive political solution, he said, cannot be reached in one step, but, “I believe we can advance towards it gradually.”

Welcoming the renewed diplomatic attention on Syria, the envoy said he looks forward to working “very closely” with all players – the Syrian parties, the Arab and Western actors, the Astana sides, and the members of the UN Security Council.

“The new openings have been accompanied by humanitarian moves, which we can only welcome and of course we should continue,” he said. “But we have not yet seen progress in the political process.”

Pedersen added: “In the coming months we will see whether this new engagement can be a circuit breaker for some political progress.”

2023 humanitarian response plan only funded 11%

EU commissioner for crisis management, Janez Lenarcic, told the afternoon plenary session that more funding is “urgently needed” as only 11% of the 2023 serious humanitarian response plan has been funded so far.

“The Syrian crisis, as we all know, is also one of the largest refugee crises facing our world today,” Lenarcic said, thanking once again the neighboring countries which host them.

“Ultimately, the aim is for these refugees to be able to return to their homes in a way that is sustainable, safe, dignified, and voluntary,” he said, but added: "Sadly, these conditions are not yet met.”

Lenarcic stressed the urgent need for more funding around the world, as he warned that “the gap between human needs and the resources available is growing.”

Organized at the European Parliament on Wednesday and Thursday, the conference seeks to raise funds for Syrian refugees and give a platform for key stakeholders from the region and international organizations.

Last year, donors pledged over €6.7 billion for Syrian refugees and their host communities.

Syria has been mired in a vicious civil war since 2011, when the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests.

Over 300,000 people have since been killed and more than 12 million have fled their homes, becoming refugees or internally displaced, according to the EU.

Türkiye is the largest host country for Syrian refugees and provides international protection to nearly 4 million people who fled the neighboring country, according to official figures.

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