Poland is to contribute EUR 50 million to help mitigate the effects of the migration crisis buffeting Europe.

The money will be used to help refugees integrate with local communities and for other forms of aid in countries including Algeria, Egypt, Lebanon, Tunisia, Syria, Albania and Serbia.

The money will be allocated to the European Investment Bank’s Economic Resilience Initiative.

The bank describes the initiative as an effort which “aims at rapidly mobilising additional financing in support of the capacity of economies in the Southern Neighbourhood and Western Balkans regions to absorb and respond to crises and shocks, such as the Syrian refugee crisis, while maintaining strong growth.”

Warsaw is the largest donor so far to the initiative.

Poland has not accepted any refugees as part of an EU programme to relocate migrants fleeing the war-torn Middle East and Africa from camps in Italy and Greece.

However, the Polish foreign ministry has said that Warsaw will continue to provide support in other areas, including by helping to protect the EU's external borders and by strengthening its humanitarian commitment.

(pk)

Source: IAR/PAP