Refugee protection: Commissioner Johansson convenes High-Level Resettlement Forum with Member States, US, Canada, and international organisations

Today, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, is convening a High-Level Resettlement Forum as an expression of European leadership in restarting and strengthening global resettlement efforts disrupted by the pandemic as well as opening up new, complementary pathways for admission and integration of refugees. The Commissioner will be joined by high-level representatives from European Union institutions, Member States and agencies, the United States of America and Canada, international organisations (UN Refugee Agency and International Organization for Migration), civil society organisations, as well as the Commission’s expert group on the views of migrants. This meeting will mark the start of a new reinforced cooperation between the key players on the global scene, needed to reply to the growing needs identified by the UN Refugee Agency. The Commissioner will underline the need to continue making progress on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum, including by adopting the Union Resettlement Framework Regulation. She will announce important Commission support, including financial support, to Member States and will call on them to make ambitious pledges for next year. Resettlement is a key tool for providing protection to refugees, allowing them to reach their new homes in a safe and orderly manner. It is also a way of demonstrating solidarity with countries hosting large numbers of refugees. In addition to resettlement, the Commission is working closely with Member States to support them in developing other legal pathways, in line with its Recommendation. The event is open to all and will be livestreamed here this afternoon. Commissioner Johansson also published a blog post, available here.