Eight European Union member states, including Austria, the Czech Republic, Cyprus, Denmark, Greece, Italy, Malta, and Poland, have called for a re-evaluation of the situation in Syria to allow for the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to their homeland. During a summit meeting in Cyprus, officials agreed that the situation in Syria has evolved, even though complete political stability has not been achieved.
Cyprus has seen an increase in Syrian refugees arriving on its shores from Lebanon in recent months. The EU has announced a 1 billion euro aid package for Lebanon to strengthen border controls and prevent the flow of asylum seekers to Cyprus and Italy.
The joint declaration also called for increased support for Lebanon to prevent further migration to the EU. They emphasized that decisions on border crossings should be made by individual member states, not criminal networks involved in human trafficking.
The call for a re-evaluation of conditions in Syria does not mean refugees will be deported. Instead, those from areas deemed safe may lose benefits and work rights to discourage further migration. The officials hope their discussions will spark a wider debate in the EU on granting international protection to migrants.
In Lebanon, where anti-refugee sentiment is on the rise, over 300 Syrian refugees returned to Syria in a convoy. Lebanese officials have urged the international community to either resettle the refugees or assist in their return to Syria.
