The European Union is changing the narrative about Syria to consider it a safe country, a legal window that would allow the return of hundreds of thousands of Syrian refugees to a country that has entered its 14th year of civil war and where 70% of the population depends on humanitarian aid. Syria is considered an unsafe country by the United Nations and the EU, but some member states, such as Cyprus, are pushing for change amid the increase in arrivals of Syrians to their territory.
Brussels is studying “structured” formulas for the “voluntary” return of Syrian asylum seekers, as announced by the president of the European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, this Thursday in Lebanon. The EU has extended to Lebanon, which will be part of this dialogue for returns, its policy of migration pacts with a financial assistance package of 1,000 million euros in exchange for its collaboration to stop departures to community territory. In the small Arab country, on the brink of economic collapse and where Israel’s conflict in Gaza is feared to spread, more than a quarter of its 5.5 million inhabitants are Syrian refugees.
“To help [a Líbano] In the management of migration, we are committed to keeping legal channels open to Europe and resettling refugees from Lebanon in the European Union,” Von der Leyen said this Thursday when announcing the agreement, reported by Morning Express. “At the same time, we count on your good cooperation to prevent illegal migration and combat migrant trafficking,” remarked the head of the Community Executive, who has visited the Arab country with the president of Cyprus, Nikos Christodoulides. Together, they have met with Lebanese Prime Minister Najib Mikati.
In an appearance with the two leaders, Von der Leyen spoke of facilitating this “more structured approach to voluntary returns.” His words have caused great concern among human rights organizations. For Human Rights Watch (HRW), they are “alarming, negligent and distressing,” as Nadia Hardman, a lawyer and HRW refugee and migration expert, describes by phone. “Von der Leyen has referred to certain safe areas within Syria. There’s no such thing. But above all, there is no monitoring of what happens to Syrians when they return. This is the missing piece to really evaluate what is happening to refugees because it is impossible to maintain open, free and unmonitored access for people inside Syria,” says Hardman. HRW, Amnesty International and six other organizations defending human rights issued a statement this Thursday condemning Von der Leyen’s statements.
The latest report from the UN Independent International Commission of Inquiry on the Syrian Arab Republic, dated April 5, insists: “Syria remains unsafe for return, and the civilian population continues to be affected by statelessness.” of law and the prevailing insecurity.”
Denmark was the first European country that decided to study the withdrawal of residence permits for refugees from Syria, claiming that in the country there are “safe” areas where Syrians can settle: in 2021 it said so about Damascus and its surroundings, and in 2023 added the cities of Latakia and Tartus. Sweden followed, although this country only applies this decision to new arrivals and does not do so retroactively, as its neighbor does.
Join Morning Express to follow all the news and read without limits.
Subscribe
The last to agree with this idea It has been Cyprus, which has seen in recent months an increase in irregular arrivals of Syrians from Lebanon through the Mediterranean: 2,000 so far in 2024, compared to 78 in the same period last year. “This is not the way to approach the protection of Syrian refugees. Lebanon has absorbed most of them and that burden should definitely be shared, but the EU’s response should not be to give money to Lebanon to keep people there, especially when Lebanon continues to deport people and make their lives miserable. ”says the lawyer.
Returns rarely voluntary
A spokesperson for the Community Executive has specified that this dialogue for voluntary returns would be carried out in cooperation with the UN refugee agency (UNHCR). A spokesperson for this UN agency has indicated to this newspaper that they are not promoting the return to Syria and reminds that States must respect the principle of non-refoulement, included in the 1951 Geneva Convention. “These returns are rarely voluntary. . The overwhelming majority of refugees in Lebanon do not want to return to Syria. “They still fear insecurity and persecution by the Assad regime,” adds Hardman. The latest data available from this UN agency indicates that some 391,000 Syrians have decided to return to their country of origin since 2016, compared to almost 8.5 million who are expatriated.
With the agreement with Lebanon announced by Von der Leyen this Thursday – one million euros until 2027 to which several hundred more are expected to be added in the coming weeks in different packages – the EU underpins its model of outsourcing migration management: paying third parties countries to control the borders and prevent departures to community territory. It is the model, although with nuances, agreed with Tunisia (900 million), Egypt (7.4 billion) and Mauritania (200 million; 500 counting on the contribution of Spain).
In the case of Lebanon, where 1.5 million Syrian refugees live, two-thirds of that financial aid (in the form of grants) will go to support Syrians and other vulnerable groups through various programs, and the rest to support programs. support of security services, such as the Lebanese Armed Forces. In addition, the EU wants the Arab country to conclude an agreement with the EU border agency (Frontex). The HRW expert recalls that the Lebanese Armed Forces have been repeatedly accused of carrying out summary deportations and illegal returns to Syria. “We also know that Frontex has been complicit in human rights abuses against refugees, migrants and asylum seekers,” she adds.
Among other reasons, encouraging voluntary return is advantageous for the EU for economic reasons. In 2021, the European Parliament Research Service calculated that a voluntary return cost 560 euros, while a forced return cost around 3,400 euros, because cash assistance must be added to travel costs, such as additional costs such as detention prior to expulsion and escorts, among others.
Follow all the international information onFacebook andxor inour weekly newsletter.
.
.
_
