1. The Humanitarian Crisis in Syria (2012-2015)
Reactions of the EU
(Humanitarian Aid, Resettlement, Returnee)
by Mónika Gyuris

2. Table of Contents Brief Background on the Syrian Crisis
Cross Border Refugees
Reactions of the EU (Humanitarian Aid, Resettlement, Returnee)
The Syrian Question in Central-Eastern Europe- in Hungary

3. The Syrian Civil War
Began in March 2011 as protests against the government of President Bashar al-Assad
Part of the Arab Spring
July 2011: Free Syrian Army

5. Refugees Crossing the Border of Syria
Jordan and Lebanon: weak infrastructure and limited resources
Turkey: cultural tensions

6. Reactions of the EU
Financial assistance by better off member states, but not yet enough to meet the needs of the refugees and their hosts
Most generous: UK, Germany
Also significant amount of help: Denmark, Luxembourg, Sweden
Other not so generous states
Immediate and long-term solutions are both needed
The European Commission has given about 1.1 million $ to Syrian refugees between 2011 and 2014

7. Tactics of the EU for Avoiding Radicalization
Avoiding mixing humanitarian with military assistance
Avoiding making refugee camps a de facto permanent solution
Engaging refugees in the planning and administration of the camps
Finding work for the refugees
Engaging women
Helping refugees gain education, for example political education as well

8. What the EU SHOULD DO According to Patrycja Sasnal & Ana Uzelac
REFUGEES SHOULD NOT BE PERCEIVED AS A THREAT, rather a source of potential
Adding refugee potential to the market
Increase refugee quotas and resettlement programs, making sure all refugees have equal access to the resettlement programs
Fully contribute to the UN Managed Syria Strategic Response Plans
Perhaps refugee aid & quota based on the GDP of the member states
Helping refugees is needed to show European values, maintain human security, safety & stability

9. Central-Eastern European Aid (2011-2014)
Austria
About 13 million $
Poland
About 5 million $
Czech Republic
About 4 million $
Hungary
About $
Romania
About $

10. Any questions?

11. Thank you for listening!

12. Resources
MERCY CORPS (2015) Quick Facts: What you need to know about the Syria Crisis [Online] Available from: facts-what-you-need-know-about-syria-crisis [Accessed: 15th March, 2015
Sasnal, P ; Uzelac, A (2014) Unaided Refugees Make ISIS Stronger: Europe and the Worst Humanitarian Crisis of the 21st Century Policy Paper [Online] The Polish Institute of International Affairs Available From: [Accessed: 16th March, 2015]
Szálkai, K (2014) “Summer is Coming? “ Escalating Host-Refugee Tensions Over Scarce Water in Jordan [Online] Biztpol Affairs Available From : pdf [Accessed: 16th March, 2015]