migration
Refugees: EU decides on billion-dollar deal with Lebanon
Hundreds of people flee to the area of Wadi Khaled on the Lebanese-Syrian border in northern Lebanon every day (archive photo). photo
© Marwan Naamani/dpa
More and more refugees have recently come from Lebanon to Cyprus – and thus to the EU. Now the confederation has promised a lot of money to prevent illegal migration and fight smugglers.
We are counting on good cooperation in preventing illegal migration and combating smuggling crime, said von der Leyen. In order to support the country in managing migration, the EU is committed to keeping legal routes to Europe open and to resettle refugees from Lebanon to the EU.
The money is intended to support, among other things, the Lebanese armed forces and other security forces. “This is primarily about providing equipment and training for border administration,” said von der Leyen. In addition, the aid should be used to strengthen the health, education and social systems in Lebanon in order to ensure greater social and economic stability.
Lebanon does not want to become a new homeland for displaced Syrians
Another focus is on economic and banking reforms in Lebanon. According to the Commission President, these are the key to a long-term improvement in the country’s overall economic situation. Improvements would allow the business environment and the banking sector to regain the trust of the international community, thereby enabling private sector investment.
However, Mikati drew clear boundaries for Lebanon: “We refuse to let our homeland become an alternative homeland,” he said. “If we emphasize this issue, it is because we warn that Lebanon is becoming a transit country from Syria to Europe. The problems at the Cyprus border are just one example of what can happen if these problems are not addressed. ”
Safe regions in Syria?
According to his government’s assessment, the current situation in Syria allows most regions of the country to be classified as safe after the civil war, Mikati continued. This must be recognized as a first step by Europe and the international community. This will make it easier for displaced people to return. People would then have to be supported on site. Part of the support must therefore be made available to promote the voluntary return of displaced Syrians.
Cyprus finds the situation unacceptable
The Cypriot government in particular recently criticized the growing number of Syrian refugees from Lebanon and called for EU action. “We cannot simply carry on doing business as usual,” said Cyprus President Christodoulidis. The current situation is not acceptable for either Lebanon or Cyprus. He also called for the situation in Syria to be re-evaluated to determine whether certain regions could now be classified as safe so that people could return.
In the past few months, dozens to hundreds of Syrians from Lebanon, a good 160 kilometers away, have arrived by boat in the EU island republic in the eastern Mediterranean almost every day. Around 4,000 migrants have been counted since the beginning of the year – in the first quarter of the previous year there were only 78.
Cyprus receives the most asylum applications
In absolute numbers, this is significantly less than in Italy, Spain and Greece, for example, where boat refugees arrive from countries such as Tunisia, Libya, Egypt, Morocco and Turkey. However, compared to its population, nowhere in the EU are there as many asylum applications as Cyprus.
Crisis-hit Lebanon can really use the financial injection from the EU. The country’s economy is ailing, which is also attributed to decades of corruption in politics and business. Almost a year ago, the UN children’s fund Unicef stated that one in ten families was forced to send their children to work.
UNHCR: Don’t forget the plight of refugees
“Our main focus continues to be on those who need protection,” said Lisa Abou Khaled, spokeswoman for the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) to the German Press Agency, referring to the agreement between the EU and Lebanon. “It is our duty as UNHCR to protect their safety and dignity while finding sustainable solutions – including accommodation in safe third countries.” Nine out of ten Syrian refugees still need support to provide even basic supplies, said Abou Khaled.