Brussels, 15/09/2015 (Agence Europe) - On Tuesday 15 September, High Representative of the EU for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini called on the EU member states to respect the commitments they took at the Justice and Home Affairs Council on Monday 14 September (see EUROPE 11388) and to provide funds as soon as possible for Syria and Africa, as well as for the United Nations High Commissioner (UNHCR).
“I'm delighted to see that the member states said they needed to strengthen their contribution to the EU regional trust fund in response to the Syrian crisis (and) I'm looking forward to them acting and strengthening their contribution”, Mogherini said during a discussion at the European Parliament on the migration challenge.
The EU home affairs ministers indeed decided to increase this trust fund “significantly to provide immediate ad hoc support for Syria and the neighbouring countries”, as the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council of the EU stated. Mogherini reiterated that this €40 million fund is open for states to contribute to and that thus far only Germany and Italy have contributed to it - with sums of €5 million and €3 million respectively (see EUROPE 11324).
Mogherini also underlined the need to act quickly. “I'm awaiting a contribution in the coming hours, not in the coming months”, she said. She also insisted on the need for the EU “to try to bring back up to level” its contribution to the UNHCR. “We are in an exceptional situation today. A change in mentality needs to take place. This is not a one-off emergency but a longer term emergency”, she said.
The previous day, the home affairs ministers had announced that the support brought by the EU budget and by the member states will be “increased in order to help the UNHCR respond to the needs of the refugees in camps set up close to their places of origin - particularly (…) in Iraq, Lebanon and Turkey”.
During the discussion, members of the parliaments from the neighbouring countries of Syria - such as Jordan, Turkey and Lebanon - called on the EU to take more action and to show more solidarity towards them. (Camille-Cerise Gessant)