EU: The situation in Syria doesn’t allow for a broad return of refugees
The European Commissioner for Internal Affairs and Migration, Magnus Brunner, stressed that the situation inside Syria hasn’t yet reached a level that allows EU countries to embark on a large-scale repatriation of Syrian refugees.
Speaking to the German news agency on Saturday, Brunner explained that the required stability hasn’t yet been achieved, saying that Europe hasn’t reached a stage where mass deportations can be carried out, because Syria is still far from being classified as a “safe country” by EU standards.
The European official noted that Brussels continues to provide support with the aim of improving conditions inside Syria and changing this reality in the future, but stressed that the current priority, with the exception of those who have committed crimes, is to encourage the voluntary return of refugees to their areas that have been severely damaged by years of war.
Brunner pointed out that the European Union Asylum Agency reported that there are indications of a gradual improvement in the situation in Syria, which prompted the European Border Protection Agency Frontex to contribute to the organization of voluntary returns that included thousands of Syrians during the past period.
