The idea of returning Syrian refugees has gained traction across the European Union as countries adopt a hardened stance on migration.
European Union members discussed on Wednesday ways to increase the voluntary return of Syrian refugees to the war-torn country, an idea that has gained traction in recent months but that remains controversial.
The talks among ambassadors were promoted by Hungary, the country currently chairing the EU Council’s presidency, and were based on a document presented by the European Commission, several diplomats said.
The document stressed the role played by the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) in supporting the return of Syrian refugees, which the EU is looking to strengthen.
These returns would take place on a strictly voluntary basis. The bloc cannot forcibly deport Syrians because they are almost always granted asylum. Additionally, the principle of non-refoulement forbids authorities from deporting migrants to nations where they could face persecution, torture or any other form of ill-treatment.
Ambassadors also touched on the lack of diplomatic relations with the autocratic regime of Bashar al-Assad, who has publicly called on his citizens to return, and the fraught situation in the Middle East, where hostilities between Israel and Lebanon have triggered the movement of tens of thousands into Syria.
The start of the Syrian Civil War in 2011 prompted millions to flee their homes and seek international protection in nearby countries, with many crossing into Europe.
The UNCHR estimates that European countries host over one million Syrian asylum seekers and refugees, with 59% of them based in Germany alone. Sweden, Austria, Greece, the Netherlands and France also host significant populations.
Last year, about 38,300 Syrian refugees chose to go back, the agency said in an annual overview, noting the conditions inside the country “were not yet conducive for the facilitation of large-scale voluntary returns in safety and dignity.”
Concerns over security, livelihoods, basic services and housing were cited as reasons for the low rate of repatriations. About 90% of people in Syria live in poverty.
Meanwhile, Human Rights Watch has warned that “Syrians fleeing violence in Lebanon face risks of repression and persecution by the Syrian government upon return, including enforced disappearance, torture and death in detention.”
A similar assessment is shared by the Commission, which has repeatedly said current circumstances in Syria cannot ensure safe and dignified repatriations.
Talks are expected to continue among member states in the coming months, with no immediate breakthrough in sight. However, the fact the discussion is happening at all signals a growing political willingness to address the controversial matter.
Earlier this month, EU leaders endorsed a hardened approach to migration management and tasked the Commission with exploring outsourcing projects and reviewing the concept of “safe third countries” to speed up deportations.
The summit in Brussels featured Syria as one of the items on the agenda. “The European Council reaffirms the need to achieve conditions for safe, voluntary and dignified returns of Syrian refugees, as defined by UNHCR,” leaders said in their conclusions.
In July, Italy and Austria led a joint letter of eight member states asking for a new EU strategy on Syria that should be “more active, results-oriented, and operational.”
The European External Action Service (EEAS), the bloc’s diplomatic arm, has confirmed it is considering appointing a special envoy for Syria, one of Italy’s key demands.
Since 2011, the EU and member states have allocated more than €30 billion in humanitarian and development aid to support Syrians in the country and the region.
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