400 million additional euros for the Syrians. But messed up at the Commission
(BRUSSELS2) In the absence of weapons, Europe will send money. The European Commission has announced the release of an additional 400 million euros to help Syrian refugees and especially neighboring countries hosting these populations.
An extraordinary measure
President Barroso announced it today (Thursday 6 June), personally, in a televised message. A rather unusual mode of communication which testifies to European concern, no doubt, but also to the Commission President's desire to get involved in the matter. In front of " the most dramatic humanitarian crisis of the last ten years ", the Commission " will implement a comprehensive assistance approach with humanitarian and non-humanitarian aid mobilizing an additional tranche of €400 million for Syria and neighboring countries, in particular Lebanon and Jordan He explained.
This sum will thus be added to the 460 million already committed by the Commission since the beginning of the crisis, and to the 380 million euros paid by the Member States of the EU. The total of European aid would exceed one billion euros, ie the largest aid at the international level. For José-Manuel Barroso, however, this aid is only a " palliative ". He thus calls for a political solution which would include a " humanitarian access » and the establishment of a « transitional government ».
NB: Humanitarian aid includes all the measures to enable the survival of these displaced populations. THE " non-humanitarian » includes aid for health, education, or local communities and governments.
This statement comes as United Nations agencies will launch tomorrow (Friday 7 June) “ a new call for international donations to finance humanitarian activities in Syria and neighboring countries explained the Commissioner in charge of Humanitarian Aid, Kristalina Georgieva. She took the opportunity to recall the terrible toll of the Syrian crisis: “ 1,6 million refugees, putting neighboring countries under unbearable pressure. 7 million people now need humanitarian assistance, more than half of them children. »
Confusing situation at the Commission
However, it was a completely different story that had been given to the press at noon by those responsible for the European budget. Questioned by our colleague from Le Monde and B2 about Syria, during the mid-day briefing, Patrizio Fiorilli, the spokesperson for the Budget Commissioner (Janusz Lewandowski) warned, very explicitly, that with the rules " of intransigence » current budget, « there is no more margin! ". “If we need anything additional, which has not been provided for by the Union budget, we will have to ask to raise the ceilings” which determine the intervention capacity of the European budget. « Por 2013 we reached the budget ceiling, even if we still had money, the limit has been reached ". " So far everything is covered. But if we need more support in the future we may have a problem. Apparently between 12:30 and 15:30 p.m., the date of the communication from the President of the Commission, we were able to find 400 million euros in no time. It's for a good cause". And so we can rejoice. But in terms of European logic, as an expert on the subject would say, it is " banging your head against the wall " to understand !
(NGV/TLB)
