The bloc has allocated 150 million euros in total to support Syrian refugees returning home to Syria from Turkey beginnning next year after an initial 95 million euros, in order to support refugees who have lived in Turkish cities for years and have decided to return to Syria after the fall of the Bashar al-Assad regime in December 2024.

"The EU is planning further support of 150 million euros to integrate this assistance, including support in Syria to contribute to the sustainability of the repatriations," EU delegation chief in Ankara Jurgis Vilčinskas told ANSA.

Vilčinskas added that part of the 150-million-euro fund will be for "repatriations for the most vulnerable to cover immediate primary needs, lodgings repairs, and support for subsistence, and will be distributed in collaboration with UNHCR in Syria."

Over 2,448 million Syrians that fled the war in recent years still live in Turkey with temporary protection status. However, since the fall of the Assad regime, many refugees have begun to return to their country of origin and over half a million have already returned.

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12 billion from EU for Syrian refugees since 2016

EU funds have thus far supported voluntary return with a "complete case management system to carry out voluntary returns in line with international law," with UNHCR monitoring, fostering access to legal assistance, and support for transportation.

While in February 2024, the European Council allocated two billion euros for "continuing support to refugees in Turkey for the 2025-2027 period," Vilčinskas noted.

Since 2016, the EU has set aside a total of 12 billion euros for assistance for Syrian migrants in Turkey.

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