EU pledges over $2B at Syria donors’ conference

By Agnes Szucs

BRUSSELS (AA) – The European Union 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 on Supporting 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 the 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 Syria refugees.”

Borrell stressed that the EU will keep on working with Türkiye to assure 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.

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

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.