Border management with regard to Lebanon and Syria

Question for written answer E-001464/2025
to the Commission
Rule 144
Lukas Mandl (PPE)

Due to the increased security challenges in the Middle East arising from the fall of the Assad regime, the region faces high risks of weapons proliferation, drug smuggling and illegal migration. The current figures show that the Central Mediterranean route remains the most active migratory pathway into the EU. Compared to 2023, there has been a 10 % increase in irregular border crossings on this route.

• 1.Does the Commission intend to address the issue of human trafficking and illegal migration at its roots in the Middle East region?
• 2.What means and measures will the Commission take to support people in Syria to stay in order to reconstruct their country, and prevent them from illegally crossing the borders to Lebanon, in order to continue to Cyprus and elsewhere in the EU?
• 3.What means and measures will the Commission adopt to support effective border management mechanisms operationally implemented by trustworthy international organisations, such as the UN Office on Drugs and Crime, in order to prevent illegal weapons smuggling and illegal border crossings, especially from Syria to Lebanon, and in order to support the Lebanese Armed Forces in fully implementing UN Security Council Resolution 1701?

Submitted: 9.4.2025