Brussels, 27 May 2024
At the 8th edition of the Brussels Conference on ‘Supporting the future of Syria and the region’, the EU pledged €2.12 billion for 2024 and 2025. This assistance will support both Syrians inside Syria and those in neighbouring countries, as well as their host communities in Türkiye, Lebanon, Jordan, and Iraq.
The Ministerial meeting which brought together delegates from EU Member States, Syria’s neighbouring countries, other partner countries and donors, and international organisations, including the UN, reiterated the need for a political process in Syria in line with United Nations Security Council Resolution (UNSCR) 2254, and the necessity to mobilise vital financial support to address the most pressing needs of Syrians people and their host communities.
The EU reconfirmed the pledge it made at the 2023 Brussels VII Conference for 2024 (€560 million) for the population inside Syria, as well as for Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Lebanon, Jordan and Iraq. The EU also pledged an additional €560 million for 2025 for the above-mentioned countries. Moreover, the EU pledged €1 billion to support Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Türkiye. Finally, the EU signalled that the pledges for 2025 constitute a part of the larger financial package until 2027, in line with the European Council Conclusions of 1 February and 18 April 2024.
The EU will continue to mobilise all the tools at its disposal to support the Syrian people in reaching a negotiated political solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and create the conditions for a brighter future for all Syrians.
Background
The Conference was preceded by online and in-country consultations with civil society organisations active in the Syrian crisis.
The Ministerial meeting built upon the conclusions of the ‘Day of Dialogue’, held on 30 April. The over 600 participants to the ‘Day of Dialogue’ – from Syrian civil society organisations from Syria, neighbouring countries and the diaspora; the UN; EU Member States; partner countries and international NGOs – exchanged views during six thematic panel discussions, focusing on: the political process and UN Security Council Resolution 2254; early recovery and resilience; health and education; livelihood opportunities; and the issue of missing persons and accountability.
The key takeaways from the Day of Dialogue were conveyed during the Ministerial meeting by three rapporteurs from Syrian the civil society.
Since 2011, the EU and its Member States have been the largest donors of humanitarian and resilience assistance to Syria and the region providing to date over €33 billion in humanitarian, development, economic and stabilisation aid.
For more information on the conference, please consult the 8th Brussels Conference website, available in English and Arabic. See more information on the EU policy towards Syria on the EEAS webpage.
For more information
- Day of Dialogue 2024 – Main takeaways
- Factsheet – Responding to the Syrian Crisis: EU support in Jordan
- Factsheet – Responding to the Syrian Crisis: EU Support inside Syria
- Factsheet – Responding to the Syrian Crisis: EU Support in Türkiye
- Factsheet – Responding to the Syrian Crisis: EU Support in Lebanon
Quote(s)
Today in Brussels, the EU and the international community showed once again that we stand with the Syrian people and their host communities. The dire challenges that the region faces today cannot distract us from the need to persevere in pushing for a Syrian-owned political solution, in line with UNSCR 2254 and facilitated by the United Nations. This is the only credible path for all Syrians to live in peace and stability, and for refugees to return home. Instead, the Syrian regime continues to perpetrate widespread human rights violations creating serious obstacles to the political process. The international community must further intensify their efforts to create the conditions for a sustainable solution to the conflict. This is the only hope to give the Syrian people the future they deserve.
High Representative/Vice-President Josep Borrell
Thirteen years of conflict have made Syria one of the largest humanitarian crises worldwide. Syrians continue to be heavily affected by ongoing hostilities, water and food shortages, protection issues, lack of access to basic services and violations of International Humanitarian Law. A staggering 16.7 million people in Syria – half of whom are women and children – still need life-saving support. There is also an urgent need to further expand resilience and early recovery programmes. Millions have fled the country, many of them seeking refuge in neighbouring countries. Support to the refugees needs to be continued. Without collective and sustained effort, the Syrian people face a desperate future. The 8th Brussels Conference is an opportunity for the international community to reaffirm its support and generously pledge humanitarian aid for people in Syria and the refugees and their host communities in the region.
Janez Lenarčič, Commissioner for Crisis Management
The decade-long conflict in Syria has profound consequences and far-reaching impact on the region – in human, political, socio-economic and security terms. The EU considers the stability and security of the region a European priority. Mindful of the major difficulties for the Syrian people and partner countries in the region, the EU as the largest donor reaffirms its predictable and reliable political and financial commitment.
Olivér Várhelyi, Commissioner for Neighbourhood and Enlargement
Source – EU Commission
Speech of Commissioner Várhelyi at the Brussels VIII Conference – Supporting the Future of Syria and the region
Brussels, 27 May 2024
I would like to start by expressing our appreciation for the valuable inputs of the Day of Dialogue, held on April 30th.
This years high level high attendance was a clear proof of the dedication by many stakeholders to help the situation on the ground and work towards meaningful solutions to address the Syria crisis.
While Syria is in crisis still but it is not under the media spotlight anymore. Especially in the context of increased regional instability, the toll of the conflict is undeniable.
First on the Syrian people, but also on host communities in the neighbouring countries. The challenges of this protracted conflict cannot be ignored. Remarkable resilience shown by the Syrian people and the host communities must be acknowledged and we need to continue building on this. It is clear that the Syrian conflict has profound consequences and far-reaching impact, starting with the Syrian people and also on the region in human, political, socioeconomic and security terms, with serious risks of instability.
The European Union commands the extraordinary efforts of Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, and also Egypt and Iraq. At the same time, we are also mindful of the major difficulties these partner countries are faced with. As the leaders of the European Union stated, Europe considers your stability and security to be a priority, a European priority. We want to reassure you that there is a predictable and long term political and financial commitment from Europe. A clear commitment that comes with meaningful actions in close cooperation with the partner countries and the international community.
The leaders of the European Union have not only made it clear that we are ready to continue our support to the Syrian refugees in Jordan, Lebanon and Türkiye, Europe has also made it very clear that now we need to double our efforts to combat human trafficking and smuggling. To this end, the European Union will uphold its essential support to all those affected by the crisis. As announced earlier by High Representative Borrell, the European Commission is pledging EUR 2.120 billion, with EUR 560 million per year for Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq in 2024 and 2025, and EUR 1 billion for Türkiye in 2024.
We will support basic services and invest in education, healthcare, social protection or water. We will also look at how to make the assistance of the European Union more effective. We will explore how to work on more structured approach to voluntary returns to Syria in close cooperation with the UNHCR, with the objective to ensure that migrants can exert their right to return in a safe, voluntary and dignified manner. We will also need to strengthen support from the international community for humanitarian and early recovery programmes in Syria, with increased level of protection of those who return to make it a durable and sustainable solution.
Ladies and Gentlemen, let me conclude by stressing that this is imperative for the international community to reaffirm its political and financial support in response to the Syria crisis. We have to redouble our efforts to address instability and vulnerability across the region in strong solidarity with the Syrian people.
Source – EU Commission