Syria-Jordan: MEPs urge burden sharing and better coordination

Following a visit to refugee camps on the Syrian-Jordanian border, Hubert Pirker MEP and Marian-Jean Marinescu MEP said: "The humanitarian crisis unleashed by the conflict in Syria and the resulting pressure on neighbouring countries are extremely worrying. It is truly impressive to see the achievements made and the aid given by the Jordanian authorities." The MEPs made the statement at a press conference ending a four-day delegation visit of MEPs to Amman.

Hubert Pirker acknowledges the efforts of the many international organisations helping to provide aid to the refugees, but calls for a better coordination of the different NGOs. "Many of those aid organisations are not acting in a coordinated and hence efficient manner. To get help provided effectively we have to assure better coordination", he said.

Marian-Jean Marinescu urges burden sharing between the Arabic states: "Jordan and other neighbouring countries have to keep their borders open to endangered civilians from Syria. In a medium-term perspective, it will be necessary to set up a regional security concept together with other countries in the region. Hubert Pirker also pointed to the severe security problem in the camps: "Security can be guaranteed only if police officers are permanently on the spot."

A delegation of four MEPs from the European Parliament's committee in charge of migration and asylum was on a fact-finding mission this week to Jordan with particular focus on the situation of Syrian refugees in the region. The programme included visits to refugee camps, registration centres as well as an exchange of views with Jordanian officials and representatives of the UN and NGOs. The delegation visit is a part of the preparations for the general overhaul of EU asylum law in the upcoming months.

Audiovisual material of the visit to the refugee camps and interviews with Hubert Pirker MEP and Marian-Jean Marinescu MEP are available on the webpage of the European Parliament's Audiovisual Service: http://audiovisual.europarl.europa.eu.