Press Release: European Commission and Italy launch first ever EU Regional Trust Fund in response to the Syrian Crisis

The European Commission and Italy signed on the 15 December 2014 the constitutive agreement to launch the first ever EU Regional Trust Fund as a new strategic financing tool to mobilise more aid in response to the Syrian Crisis. The start-up funding provided amounts to 20 million from the EU budget and 3 million from Italy as the first founding donor. Additional funding was foreseen for 2015. The EU Trust Fund would initially focus on support to refugees and host communities in Syria's neighbouring countries.