EU interior ministers hold in-depth discussion on Syria

EU interior and justice ministers, during their meeting in Luxembourg Tuesday, had an in-depth discussion on Syria with particular reference to the protection of refugees, said the ministers in a statement tonight. EU High Representative Catherine Ashton and representatives from the European Commission, European Asylum support office (EASO) and European Agency for the Management of Operational Cooperation at the External Borders of the Member States of the European Union (FRONTEX ) updated ministers on the latest developments. Given the deterioration of the situation in Syria, they recalled the strong EU commitment to step up the assistance to the concerned populations in Syria and the neighbouring countries, the statement, available here, noted. The ministers welcomed the progress being made towards the establishment of a Regional Protection Programme and invited the European Commission to continue its work. They also took note of the report on the results of the fact-finding mission, organised by the European Commission in cooperation with EASO and FRONTEX, which visited Bulgaria, Cyprus and Greece, with the objective to monitor the situation in these member states in terms of current and potential migratory pressures coming, in particular, from Syria. Ministers discussed also the tragedy at sea near the Italian island of Lampedusa where more than 200 African migrants are confirmed to have drowned. They had an exchange of views on the actions that are needed to avoid such tragedies.