EU plans big cash offer for Afghanistan’s neighbors to host refugees
EU countries vowed Tuesday to dole out an unspecified amount of funds to significantly beef up financial support for Afghanistan’s neighbors to manage the refugee crisis at their borders.
But they also pushed back discussions on the bloc’s own role in potentially accepting asylum seekers, citing fears of a “pull effect” that may draw more people.
At a meeting in Brussels, EU interior ministers
adopted a text that pledges financial support to “relevant international organizations” and neighboring countries of Afghanistan “to reinforce their capacities to provide protection, dignified and safe reception conditions and sustainable livelihood for refugees.” The more than five-hour-long talks were nearly derailed when Luxembourg threatened to block a joint statement over complaints that it didn’t convey solidarity with Afghan refugees.
Neither EU ministers nor the European Commission could confirm exactly how much money they would offer to Afghanistan’s neighbors such as Pakistan and Iran, with a Commission spokesperson citing the “ongoing” nature of discussions. One EU official said, however, that the plan was to offer up to €1 billion to neighboring countries.
The planned financial support reflects the EU’s broader goal of
keeping Afghan migrants outside the bloc amid fears of another surge and the fractious internal disputes over the issue among member countries: “Based on lessons learned, the EU and its member states stand determined to act jointly to prevent the recurrence of uncontrolled large-scale illegal migration movements faced in the past, by preparing a coordinated and orderly response,” the statement reads, adding that “incentives to illegal migration should be avoided.”
Interior ministers avoided making commitments to voluntarily resettle asylum seekers in Europe.
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