European solidarity in the context of asylum and international protection
- Author(s):
- Parliamentary Assembly
- Origin
- Text
adopted by the Standing Committee, acting on behalf of
the Assembly, on 3 March 2023 (see Doc. 15718, report of the Committee on Migration, Refugees and
Displaced Persons, rapporteur: Lord Alexander Dundee). See
also Recommendation 2248
(2023).
1. Aware that Europe faces the highest
number of refugees and displaced persons since the Second World War,
mainly due to the military attack by the Russian Federation against
Ukraine, the Parliamentary Assembly welcomes the high level of European
solidarity shown among member States and with Ukraine in the context of
asylum and international protection of persons fleeing war, conflict,
persecution and situations of human rights violations.
2. In view of its
Resolution
2448 (2022) “Humanitarian consequences and internal and
external displacement in connection with the aggression of the Russian
Federation against Ukraine”, the Assembly calls on member States,
the European Union and the United Nations to maintain, and if possible
increase, the level of their humanitarian solidarity with displaced
Ukrainians, as the Russian military persists in targeting and attacking
the civilian infrastructure within Ukraine.
3. Recalling its
Resolution
2404 (2021) “Instrumentalised migration pressure on the
borders of Latvia, Lithuania and Poland with Belarus”, the Assembly
is appalled by the abuse of migrants and refugees for political
purposes and invites all member States to review their visa and
immigration arrangements as well as their readmission agreements
and practices in order to prevent vulnerable persons from falling
victim to migrant smuggling and organised crime.
4. Taking into account its
Resolution
2409 (2021) “Voluntary relocation of migrants in need
of humanitarian protection and voluntary resettlement of refugees”,
the Assembly approves the measures taken by a few member States
which have already relocated or resettled vulnerable refugees from
overwhelmed locations in Cyprus, Greece, Italy, the Republic of
Moldova and Ukraine as well as from Libya and other countries. Equally to
be welcomed is the decision by European Union member States to apply
the Council Directive 2001/55/EC of 20 July 2001 on minimum standards
for giving temporary protection in the event of a mass influx of
displaced persons and on measures promoting a balance of efforts
between Member States in receiving such persons and bearing the
consequences thereof, and offer public transport free of charge
to displaced Ukrainians. All member States of the Council of Europe
should strengthen solidarity through more voluntary relocations
and resettlements.
5. Considering its
Resolution
2380 (2021) “Humanitarian action for refugees and migrants
in countries in North Africa and the Middle East”, the Assembly
reminds member States that European solidarity should also be extended
beyond the European continent, especially to those countries along
the southern shore of the Mediterranean Sea, these being transit
countries for irregular migrants seeking to reach Europe. Conflicts, climate
change and poverty are increasingly driving people from many different
places to try to reach certain member States.
6. Following its
Resolution
2356 (2020) “Rights and obligations of NGOs assisting
refugees and migrants in Europe”, the Assembly applauds the immense
humanitarian contributions made by so many non-governmental organisations
(NGOs). Without NGO action and co-operation, member States on their
own would not be able to cope sufficiently with the humanitarian
demands of millions of refugees and persons at present under international
protection in Europe. Since NGOs and charities are the mainstay
of all humanitarian efforts on the ground, this work thus deserves
the full support of member States, the European Union and the Council
of Europe, in particular through its Conference of International
Non-Governmental Organisations (INGOs).
7. Welcoming the Cities4Cities initiative of the Congress of
Local and Regional Authorities of the Council of Europe to support
twinning with Ukrainian cities, the Assembly recognises the central
role played by local authorities when people first arrive in search
of asylum or international protection. Member States and the European
Union should, therefore, support local authorities financially,
technically and in administrative ways in order to improve their
ability to take on emergency situations caused by the arrival of
large numbers of people.
8. Appreciating the very strong financial solidarity shown by
the European Union towards Türkiye for hosting some 3.7 million
displaced Syrians since 2015 under the European Union–Turkey Statement
of 18 March 2016, as well as with displaced Ukrainians both inside
Ukraine and abroad, the Assembly calls on member States to match
these achievements by providing bilateral financial assistance and
support through the United Nations.
9. Approving the appeal for more European solidarity made by
members of the Assembly’s Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced
Persons, together with members of the Ad Hoc Committee on Migration
of the Parliamentary Assembly of the Organisation for Security and
Co-operation in Europe on the occasion of the joint web conference
hosted by the Parliament of the United Kingdom on the eve of World
Refugee Day 2021, the Assembly invites national parliaments and
the European Parliament to regularly hold thematic debates to identify
needs and strategies for greater European solidarity in the context
of asylum and international protection.
10. As a result of the action decided upon by member States after
the Russian military attack against Ukraine and also in view of
the increasing number of arrivals of refugees from other countries,
the Assembly invites:
10.1 the Council
of Europe Development Bank to continue its effective support for
displaced Ukrainians as well as other refugees and persons under
international protection in member States;
10.2 the Congress of Local and Regional Authorities of the
Council of Europe to help local authorities, which host large numbers
of internally displaced persons, refugees and persons under international protection,
to conduct local needs assessments and communicate the results to
national parliaments and governments;
10.3 the Conference of INGOs of the Council of Europe to foster
co-operation among humanitarian NGOs running local activities on
the ground to meet the humanitarian needs of refugees and persons under
international protection;
10.4 the European Youth Centres of the Council of Europe in
Strasbourg and Budapest to step up efforts to help displaced young
Ukrainians and other young refugees;
10.5 the European Centre for Global Interdependence and Solidarity
(North-South Centre) of the Council of Europe in Lisbon to do more
for vulnerable refugees and migrants from the global South who live
in Europe.
