Brussels Conference on "Supporting the future of Syria and the region": new financial tracking report

The European Union is hosting and co-chairing with the United Nations the fifth Brussels Conference on "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" on 29 and 30 March 2021. The high-level event aims to maintain the international community's support behind efforts to address critical humanitarian and resilience needs in Syria and the region, and facilitate a sustainable political solution in Syria. The Conference is the main pledging event for the Syrian crisis in 2021.

The European Union is hosting and co-chairing with the United Nations the fifth Brussels Conference on "Supporting the future of Syria and the region" on 29 and 30 March 2021. The high-level event aims to maintain the international community's support behind efforts to address critical humanitarian and resilience needs in Syria and the region, and facilitate a sustainable political solution in Syria. The Conference is the main pledging event for the Syrian crisis in 2021.

Today, the EU published a report on delivery against the pledges made at the fourth Brussels Conference on “Supporting the future of Syria and the region” held in June 2020. The international community came together at this event to support the millions of civilians affected by the conflict, as well as the countries and communities generously hosting them. Donors pledged €4.9 billion (US$5.5 billion) in grant and macro-financial funding to support humanitarian, resilience, stabilisation and development activities in 2020 in Syria and the region, and a further €2 billion (US$2.2 billion) for 2021 and beyond. In addition, international financial institutions and donors announced €6 billion (US$6.7 billion) in loans for 2020 and beyond.

The report shows that as of January 2021, donors have contributed €6.8 billion (US$7.6 billion) in grants to Turkey, Egypt, Iraq, Jordan, Lebanon and Syria, exceeding by 54% the original conference pledge of €4.4 billion (US$4.9 billion). In terms of grants for the period 2021 and beyond, donors have already made €2.3 billion (US$2.5 billion) available, which is 25% more than the original conference pledge of €1.8 billion (US$2 billion). In terms of loans for 2020 and beyond, donors and multi-lateral development banks have already made €5.5 billion (US$6.2 billion) available. This corresponds to 90% of the total original conference pledge of €6.2 billion (US$6.9 billion) in loans to governments of refugee-hosting countries, the majority concessional. Donors made significant and concerted efforts in 2020 to meet the additional challenges that faced the region, in particular the COVID-19 pandemic. 

In the tenth year of the conflict, the EU with its Member States remains the largest contributor to the response to the Syrian crisis with €24.9 billion (US$27.4 billion) collectively mobilised since 2011. The four Brussels Conferences hosted since 2017 have mobilised grant pledges worth €27.5 billion (US$ 30.2 billion). Consistently, the EU with its Member States is meeting 60-80% of the needs across the region.