EU vows support for Syrian refugees until their ‘safe, dignified’ return

BRUSSELS

The EU on Wednesday vowed to support Syrian refugees until they can return to their homeland in a “safe and dignified” manner.

EU Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic opened the 7th Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region.”

Lenarcic commended Türkiye, Lebanon, Iraq, and Jordan for hosting Syrian refugees for over 10 years.

He also stated that the EU’s position on Syria remains “unchanged” and the bloc continues to “support the Syrian people” while it rules out the normalization of relations with the Bashar al-Assad regime until it complies with UN resolutions.

Gert Jan Koopman, the director general of the European Commission’s department in charge of neighborhood policy, said that the EU considers the help for Syrians as a “priority” and will “continue it as long as the conditions for safe, dignified and voluntary return are not met.”

He asserted that “in the long run, a durable political solution is required to solve this conflict.”

“This social and economic misery” will only end “through a safe and dignified return of the refugees,” Koopman added.

Organized in the European Parliament on June 14-15, the event 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 in civil war since 2011 when the regime cracked down on pro-democracy protests.

Over 400,000 people were killed, and more than 12 million needed to flee their homes becoming refugees or internally displaced over the past ten years, 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.