Cyprus among EU countries calling for Syria to be declared safe

Cyprus is among eight countries that have asked the EU to rethink its strategy on migrants from Syria, in a letter seen by the Cyprus News Agency (CNA) on Monday.

The CNA quoted from the letter, dated July 15 and addressed by the eight countries to Josep Borrell, High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy.

Cyprus co-signed the letter with Austria, the Czech Republic, Greece, Croatia, Italy, Slovenia and Slovakia.

It notes that the conflict in Syria has been ongoing for 13 years, leading to “the largest displacement crisis in the world” with record numbers of refugees heading out to neighbouring countries and to Europe.

The signatories say that whereas the EU’s strategy on Syria dates to 2017, the situation on the ground in Syria has changed considerably in the meantime. They point out that the Syrian “regime” has regained control of approximately 70 per cent of the country’s territory, while other areas as well are relatively stable.

In addition, despite the political process under UN auspices not progressing, Syria has been readmitted to the Arab League and normalised relations with countries such as Saudi Arabia, in this way “creating new regional dynamics”.

At the same time, “the humanitarian situation in the country has further deteriorated and the economy is collapsing” while migrant flows continue unabated.

The signatories therefore call on the EU to review its strategy and adapt it to “the changes and realities in Syria and the vicinity”.

Their proposal aims to formulate “a more proactive policy” that would enable the EU bloc to “enhance our political influence, the effectiveness of our humanitarian assistance and the approach for swift recovery, and to contribute to attaining conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified returns of Syrian refugees in line with Unhcr (United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees) standards”.

In the same letter, the eight countries said they will present issues for discussion in an informal document they will submit to the EU’s Political and Security Committee.

The conflict in Syria broke out in 2011. Depending on the estimates, anywhere from 200,000 to 300,000 civilians have been killed. Around 6.7 million people have been displaced internally, and well over 6 million externally.

Almost 3,000 Syrians filed asylum applications in Cyprus between January and March this year, according to Unhcr figures.