Today marked the closing of the Facility for Refugees in Turkey (FRIT), a landmark initiative that shaped European Union support for refugees in the country over the past decade.

Senior representatives from the European Union, its Member States, Türkiye and the United Kingdom gathered in Brussels for the Facility's final Steering Committee. Together, they examined the findings of the independent end-evaluation and reflected on ten years of close cooperation. The meeting underscored both the achievements of this partnership; and the collective responsibility that guided it.

EU refugee support under the Facility for Refugees in Turkey

Established in March 2016 as a central element of the EU-Turkey Statement, the Facility mobilised €6 billion between 2016 and 2019, financed equally by the EU budget and Member States. This investment supported 115 key projects in areas most critical to refugees and the communities hosting them. Millions of people received assistance to meet their basic needs, gained access to health services and education, and benefited from improved public infrastructure. At the same time, programmes fostered livelihoods and social inclusion, helping refugees move towards greater stability and self-reliance within Turkish society.

Türkiye's geographical location placed it on the front line of one of the largest displacement crises in recent history. When the Facility was established in 2016, the country was hosting more than 3.1 million Syrian refugees, and nearly 4 million refugees overall, representing a responsibility of global significance. During this period, the European Union remained a consistent partner, combining humanitarian aid with longer-term development support to strengthen Türkiye's response capacity.

With its final Steering Committee, the Facility has now fulfilled its mandate as a dedicated coordination mechanism instrument. However, out of the 115 Facility projects, 11 interventions are ongoing. Extensions were necessary due to implementation delays caused by COVID-19, the February 2023 earthquakes and persistent inflationary pressures. Five of these projects are expected to conclude by the end of 2026, while the remaining interventions will be finalised by 2028-2029.

This moment represents then the conclusion of a coordination framework as the successful delivery of a major joint commitment, reflecting years of coordinated effort and tangible results on the ground.

Additional EU refugee support in Türkiye

EU engagement, however, has continued beyond the Facility framework. For 2020-2027, a further €6 billion was mobilised to sustain and expand assistance for refugees in Türkiye. Programmes financed through this phase remain actively under implementation, ensuring continued access to essential services, protection, education, health care and socio-economic opportunities.

The European Union remains firmly committed to its partnership with Türkiye and to supporting refugees and host communities.

For more information

• Webpage on EU Support to Refugees in Türkiye
• Factsheet on the EU Facility for Refugees in Türkiye

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