The High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, Josep Borrell, warned, on Tuesday 10 November, that the EU and its Member States will not attend the conference on refugee returns scheduled for 11-12 November in Damascus (Syria), to which he and several foreign ministers were invited.
The United Nations will be present as an observer at this conference organised by the Syrian regime with the support of Russia.
“The European Union is of the view that the priority at present is real action to create conditions for safe, voluntary, dignified and sustainable return of refugees and internally displaced persons to their areas of origin, in line with international law and the Protection Thresholds and Parameters for Refugee Return to Syria, as issued by the UN in February 2018, with the UNHCR enjoying full and unhindered access throughout Syria”, the High Representative said, calling the conference “premature”.
While stressing that the decision to return to Syria must always be an individual one, the High Representative claimed that the current conditions in the country did not lend themselves to the promotion of large-scale voluntary return, in conditions of safety and dignity in line with international law. “The limited returns that have taken place illustrate the many obstacles and threats still faced by returning internally displaced persons and refugees, in particular forced conscription, indiscriminate detention, forced disappearances, torture, physical and sexual violence, discrimination in access to housing, land and property as well as poor or inexistent basic services”, he added.
More than 5.5 million Syrians have fled the country since the beginning of the conflict in 2011. (Original version in French by Camille-Cerise Gessant)