EU pledges $2.31 billion to support Syrians, host communities

By Serdar Dincel

ISTANBUL (AA) - The EU announced it pledged €2.12 billion ($2.31 billion) for 2024 and 2025 to support Syrians in that country and in neighboring countries, as well as host communities in Türkiye, Jordan, Iraq and Lebanon, during a Brussels conference on Syria.

"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," a statement by the European Commission said Monday.

Underlining that the EU reaffirmed its pledge of €560 million ($609 million) for 2024 that it made at the 2023 Brussels VII Conference for the population inside Syria, as well as for Syrian refugees and vulnerable host communities in Jordan, Lebanon and Iraq, the statement noted that "the EU also pledged an additional €560 million for 2025" for those 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," it added.

It highlighted that the bloc will continue to support Syrians to reach "a negotiated political solution in line with UN Security Council Resolution 2254, and create the conditions for a brighter future for all Syrians."

Meanwhile, European Commissioner for Crisis Management Janez Lenarcic wrote on X that his agency "raised a total €7.5 B - €5 B in grants and €2.5 B in loans - (about $8.15 B)."