Brussels, Belgium, 28 March 2022 — 23 NGOs are jointly urging the EU and European countries to work together to put into action their refugee response commitments in light of the crisis in Ukraine. This call comes ahead of EU justice and home affairs ministers meeting today to discuss the EU’s support for people fleeing the crisis in Ukraine.
The statement calls on the EU and EU countries to coordinate effective responsibility-sharing which incorporates lessons learned from the EU’s previous migration response. This comes against the backdrop of more than 3.7 million people fleeing Ukraine as of Friday 25 March, most of whom are in neighboring countries such as Poland, Moldova, and Romania.
Many of these countries are reaching their limit in how many people they can receive. EU countries now need to rapidly increase their resources and step up swift, safe and orderly transfers across the EU to make sure we do not see a repeat of people spending prolonged periods in refugee camps, unable to access their rights such as going to a doctor and vulnerable to many risks such as trafficking.
Niamh Nic Carthaigh, IRC Director of EU Policy & Advocacy, says:
"The impressive mobilisation of the EU and its member states in response to the arrival of more than 3.8 million refugees from Ukraine in the past month shows that Europe is capable of welcoming refugees in a coordinated, fair, and humane way when it has the will to do so. As more people arrive from Ukraine with fewer connections and resources, it is vital that their commitments are now put into practice. Safe access to EU territory, to temporary protection, and to asylum procedures must be upheld without discrimination.
Firstly, the EU must coordinate and fund the swift, safe and orderly passage across its territory for all people fleeing Ukraine - regardless of their nationality, ethnicity or legal status. This is vital in order to respond in solidarity, relieve pressure on states of first arrival, and enable people to reach countries where they have family, friends or support networks.
Secondly, member states must make full use of the EU funding and assistance available to increase their registration and safeguarding capacity, to improve access to rights, and to ensure refugees’ are protected from trafficking and exploitation. Given that the vast majority of new arrivals are women and girls, special attention should be placed on ensuring a gender-sensitive response, which also provides support for vulnerable groups including children, people with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, and victims of trafficking."
Notes to editors:
Today, EU home affairs ministers met in Brussels in the format of the Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council to discuss European coordination for the reception of people fleeing the crisis in Ukraine.
Read the joint statement and list of signatories including International Rescue Committee, Oxfam, Amnesty International, and Human Rights Watch.
The joint statement calls for:
- The EU and EU countries to work together to coordinate and facilitate safe and orderly transfers to and across the EU. This includes working with national airlines, buses, and railways to provide direct travel routes free of charge for people fleeing, giving priority to people’s preferences in which EU country they want to live in, quick and swift registration in languages applicants understand, and special measures for those with vulnerabilities including survivors of trafficking, those with disabilities, unaccompanied children, etc.
- Coordination between national authorities and service providers. A central EU Relocation Coordinator’s office is needed to coordinate EU responsibility-sharing by linking up the relevant stakeholders and ensuring information is shared efficiently between national authorities on reception capacity and support needs, such as guardianship for unaccompanied children. The Solidarity Platform, could be used to facilitate this exchange. EU countries should appoint national coordinators to act as focal points and coordinate at the national level.
- Monitoring of rights and the inclusion of civil society. The EU should mandate EU bodies such as the EU Fundamental Rights Agency and the EU Asylum Agency to act as monitors to ensure people have access to EU territory, safe and orderly transfers, and are able to claim their rights under the Temporary Protection Directive and asylum procedures. People fleeing Ukraine and civil society should be able to report any infringement of rights to the EU Commission including through regular, formalised exchange.
- EU guidance on groups with vulnerabilities: The EU must develop guidance specific on transfers of people with vulnerabilities e.g. those with disabilities, LGBTQI+ individuals, survivors of trafficking or other forms of exploitation, and unaccompanied children. Input from EU bodies (EU Agency for Fundamental Rights and the EUAA), international organisations (UNHCR and the IOM), and civil society must be included.
Latest figures as of 25 March 2022 show almost 3.7 million people have fled Ukraine, the overwhelming majority first arriving and seeking support in neighbouring countries including Poland, Moldova, Romania, Slovakia, and Hungary.
The EU has made new rules that grant people fleeing Ukraine the right to live and work in the EU for three years. This is the so-called Temporary Protection Directive. Its aim is to reduce pressure on national asylum systems and to allow displaced persons to access harmonised rights across the EU. Last Wednesday, the EU came out with a plan to implement these rules – making it easier to access their rights, like going to school, getting health care, and finding jobs, through the new rules.