Upholding values abroad: Europe’s balancing act in Egypt
Italy and the EU should not assume that a concerted campaign to release George Zaki is doomed to failure
Experts & Staff
Kelly Petillo
Programme Manager, Middle East and North Africa
Areas of expertise
Middle East; human rights; refugees; humanitarian issues
Languages
Italian, English, French
Biography
Kelly Petillo is the programme manager for Middle East and North Africa at the European Council on Foreign Relations, focusing on refugee, humanitarian and human rights issues. Her publications include From aid to inclusion: A better way to help Syrian refugees in Turkey, Lebanon, and Jordan.
Petillo’s experience stems from roles at various human rights and humanitarian INGOs and UN agencies in Europe and the Middle East, including Crisis Action, the International Crisis Group and the UN agency for Palestine refugees (UNRWA). In the past, Kelly carried out research on the impact of the war in Syria on Palestinian refugees since its outbreak in 2011. She also spent time in Lebanon, where she helped convening youth-led events to promote the rights of refugees and migrant workers in the country.
In the media
While the EU officially opposes returning Syrians, there is growing informal and political buy-in on the front of rethinking certain areas of Syria as safe to return refugees
Kelly Petillo on a possible anti-migration deal between Lebanon and the EU
The Lebanese Forces are hostile to Syrian refugees, whose protracted presence threatens the prominence of Christian parties in Lebanon’s politics
Kelly Petillo comments on the hostile reaction towards Syrians amidst the ongoing political and economic crisis in Lebanon
Kelly Petillo on the confusing political situation in Lebanon
Now leaders like al-Sisi and Saied feel more confident that they will be given leeway to cement their power and use financial support to do the bare minimum to sustain people in these countries
Kelly Petillo comments on the EU’s strategy to support North African governments to curb migration
Kelly Petillo on drone attacks on civilians in Syria