The president of the European Commission (EC), Ursula von der Leyenannounced this Thursday during an official visit to Beirut a package of community aid to Lebanon worth 1 billion euros to support the management of Syrian refugees in its territory, as well as other matters.
«To underline our support, I can announce a financial package of 1 billion euros for Lebanon, which will be available from this year until 2027»he indicated in a press conference with the Lebanese Prime Minister, Najib Mikatiand to the Cypriot president, Nikos Jristodoulidis.
With this, the European Union intends to contribute to the “socioeconomic stability” of the Mediterranean country by supporting basic services such as education and health.; helping the implementation of economic and banking system reforms, or strengthening the work of the Lebanese security forces.
It also seeks to help Lebanon manage migration in its territory, where more than 1.5 million Syrian refugees reside, the largest number per capita in the world.
«We are committed to keeping legal pathways to Europe open and resettling refugees from Lebanon to the European Union. At the same time, we count on your good cooperation to prevent illegal migration and combat migrant smuggling.”Von der Leyen told the Lebanese.
In this sense, he noted that they will also try to identify ways to make community aid more “effective”, which could include adopting a “more structured” approach regarding voluntary returns to Syria.
The president of the European Commission traveled accompanied by Jristodulidiswho has been working to promote an agreement with a focus on migration after a recent sharp increase in the arrival of boats carrying Syrian refugees to Cypriot coasts, often from Lebanon.
«The current situation is not sustainable for Lebanon, it is not sustainable for Cyprus, it is not sustainable for the European Union»warned the Cypriot president in the appearance in Beirut.
In line with previous statements, Jristodulidis highlighted the “enormous pressure” that the presence of Syrian refugees puts on the Lebanese “economy and society”, while calling for not continuing to deal with the problem “as usual.”
Since the start of a serious economic crisis in Lebanon at the end of 2019, Lebanese authorities have insisted that the Syrian community must return to their country.
Although after thirteen years of war the battle fronts are practically frozen in Syria, human rights organizations consider that return is not safe due in part to the reprisals that the Damascus authorities can take against those who left the country. EFE (I)
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