Every year, on 20 June, we celebrate World Refugee Day. The focus this year is on the right to seek safety. Everyone on the planet has the right to seek safety, no matter who they are, where they come from or when they are forced to flee. In 2022, as a result of Russia’s war on Ukraine, Europe is receiving a large new wave of refugees in search of peace and safety.

World Refugee Day: EU solidarity with Ukraine

The Russian aggression against Ukraine has disrupted many people’s lives. Millions of Ukrainians have fled to neighbouring countries, in particular to Poland, Slovakia, Hungary and Romania, from where they are progressively moving to other European Member States. In the face of this growing humanitarian crisis, it is essential for them to have access to affordable connectivity, in order to stay in touch with their family and friends. And the European Union is working to help them.

Helping refugees to stay connected

According to statistics since 2008 over 318 million people around the world have been forcibly displaced by floods, windstorms, earthquakes or droughts, 30.7 million in 2020 alone. This is equivalent to one person being displaced every second. Depending on the frequency and scale of the major natural disasters occurring, there are significant fluctuations in the total number of displaced people from one year to the next, yet the trend over recent decades has been a growing one. Many find refuge within their own country, but some are forced to go abroad. In this podcast, we’ll talk about ‘climate refugees’, a concept that remains unclear despite the rising number of people forcibly displaced because of climate disasters.

EPRS policy podcast - The concept of 'climate refugee': Towards a possible definition

Krieg, Verfolgung und Gewalt zwingen Millionen Menschen dazu, aus ihrer Heimat zu fliehen. Viele Flüchtlinge leben nun in Lagern, und die Coronavirus-Pandemie macht ihr Leben noch schwerer. Die EU hilft ihnen, und zwar so:

Das tut Europa, um Flüchtlingen in Lagern im Mittelmeerraum durch die Coronakrise zu helfen

Climate change has forced people to leave their territory and has led to the term ‘climate refugee’. Climate change also means that in the future, more people are expected to become climate refugees. International protection for these people is lacking, but various international organisations are paving the way to incorporate climate refugees into legislation. The EU has expressed its concern about climate refugees, and is taking proactive steps in order to ensure better protection for them.

Better Legislation - The concept of Climate Refugee SL

Die EU hilft Menschen in Not, und sie hat viele Maßnahmen vereinbart, damit Notleidende geschützt und menschenwürdig aufgenommen werden. Hier sind drei Beispiele:

Das tut Europa, um Flüchtlinge zu schützen, die vor Krieg oder politischer Unterdrückung in ihren Heimatländern fliehen

AFET - Exchange of views on the recent allegations against UNWRA staff and the impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Lisbon (Portugal) - Meeting with Afghan refugees and with the EU Ambassadors

EP Plenary session - Address by Cate Blanchett, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Situation of Ukrainian women refugees, including access to SRHR support

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

LIBE CONT Public hearing on the financial support for the Ukrainian refugees

World Mental Health Day: Migrants, Refugees and Mental Health.

Velomai Award Ceremony - handing over some of the donated bikes to Ukrainian refugees

FEMM - LIBE joint Committee - Hearing on the Situation of women refugees from Ukraine

AFET/SEDE Delegation to Moldova - Visit of the Palanca border crossing point and refugee center

FEMM extraordinary Committee - Exchange of views on the situation of women refugees fleeing Ukraine

Press conference on Parliament's vote on Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE)

EP Plenary session - Refugees in Europe: CARE

EP Plenary session - The deterioration of the situation of refugees as a consequence of Russian aggression against Ukraine

EP Plenary session - Address by Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for refugees

EP Plenary session - Implementation report on the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law - The situation in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya

Press conference by Younous OMARJEE, Chair of Regional Development Committee, and Elisa FERREIRA, the Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms on Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE)

Lage der Rohingya-Flüchtlinge, insbesondere die Not der Kinder

Situation of Rohingyas refugees, in particular the plight of children

Fortschritte bei dem globalen Pakt der Vereinten Nationen für eine sichere, geordnete und reguläre Migration und dem globalen Pakt für Flüchtlinge

Progress on UN Global compacts for safe, orderly and regular migration and on refugees

Flüchtlingslager Dadaab (Aussprache)

Dadaab refugee camp (debate)

Bewältigung von Flüchtlings- und Migrantenströmen: Die Rolle des auswärtigen Handelns der EU (Aussprache)

Addressing refugee and migrant movements: the role of EU External Action (debate)

Soforthilfe für Flüchtlinge und Migranten, die in europäischen Lagern widrigen Wetterbedingungen ausgesetzt sind (Aussprache)

Emergency Aid for refugees and migrants facing severe weather conditions in European camps (debate)

Gipfel hochrangiger Vertreter der VN zum Thema Große Flüchtlings- und Migrantenströme (Aussprache)

UN High-level Summit on addressing large movements of refugees and migrants (debate)

Flüchtlinge - soziale Inklusion und Integration in den Arbeitsmarkt (Aussprache)

Refugees: social inclusion and integration into the labour market (debate)

EYE 2016 – EYEtv Debates « Refugees on the move: searching for solutions » and « Reaching for the stars of Europe’s tomorrow »

UNKN

Die Lage von weiblichen Flüchtlingen und Asylsuchenden in der EU (Aussprache)

The situation of women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU (debate)

IWD 2016 - Women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU – Seminar for journalists – part 2

IWD 2016 - Women refugees and asylum seekers in the EU – Seminar for journalists – part 1

Flüchtlingskrise, Kontrolle der Außengrenzen und die Zukunft von Schengen - Achtung des internationalen Grundsatzes der Nichtzurückweisung - Finanzierung der Flüchtlingsfazilität für die Türkei - Anstieg von rassistisch motiviertem Hass und Gewalt gegen Flüchtlinge und Migranten in Europa (Aussprache)

Refugee emergency, external borders control and future of Schengen - Respect for the international principle of non-refoulement - Financing refugee facility for Turkey - Increased racist hatred and violence against refugees and migrants across Europe (debate)

Humanitäre Lage der Flüchtlinge in der EU und den Nachbarstaaten (Fortsetzung der Aussprache)

Humanitarian situation of refugees within the EU and neighbouring countries (continuation of debate)

Humanitäre Lage der Flüchtlinge in der EU und den Nachbarstaaten (Aussprache)

Humanitarian situation of refugees within the EU and neighbouring countries (debate)

Migration und Flüchtlinge in Europa (Aussprache)

Migration and refugees in Europe (debate)

Die Notlage der Rohingya-Flüchtlinge - Massengräber in Thailand (Aussprache)

The plight of Rohingya refugees, including mass graves in Thailand (debate)

Roberta METSOLA, President of the European Parliament, meets with Cate Blanchett, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, before the start of the plenary session. Ms Blanchett has been a UNHCR Goodwill Ambassador since 2016 and shares her experience of, and insights into, raising public awareness about the plight of refugees and stateless people worldwide with MEPs.

Visit of Cate BLANCHETT , Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, to the European Parliament: meeting with Roberta METSOLA, EP President; and extracts from the address

Cate Blanchett, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, addresses the hemicycle with a speech. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Address by Cate Blanchett, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

Roberta METSOLA, EP President, gives her opening statement before the address in front of the hemicycle by Cate Blanchett, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency. This transcription is a result of an automatic process. Please check against delivery.

Address by Cate Blanchett, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency: introductory statement by Roberta METSOLA, EP President

Due to the geopolitical situation in several of the EU's neighbouring countries, the number of asylum-seekers coming to the EU increased significantly in 2015 and 2016, before falling in 2017. For this reason, asylum and migration have become urgent topics of discussion across the EU. This inflocip shows the arrival of migrants on the Italian coast, life inside refugee camps, food banks, language classes and educational support for migrant children.

Infoclip: EU's response to migration challenges

As Russia’s full-on invasion of Ukraine enters its second year, many refugees have picked up the pieces of their shattered lives and are rebuilding them in the European Union. Their stories are a tale of strength, resilience and solidarity. Here, four of them, living in Germany, Poland and Spain, tell their stories.        
      
The European Parliament continues to stand by Ukraine and its people. Learn more: http://epyoutube.eu/UkraineOneYearOn

Meet Ukrainian refugees who fled the war

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in the European Parliament in Brussels. Extracts from the arrival, welcome and roundtable.

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for Refugees: arrival, welcome and roundtable

A Civil Liberties Committee delegation go to Brussels (Belgium) before Calais (France) and Ter Apel (Netherlands) to look into irregular crossings to the UK and the implications for reception facilities. MEPs meet with government officials and agencies in charge of migration policy as well as NGO representative, and they will visit reception facilities. The delegation exchanges with various NGOs active in supporting migrants and refugees, meet with Nicole De Moor, Secretary of State for Asylum and Migration and visits a local registration centre.

Asylum and Migration: visit of a Delegation of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs Delegation to Brussels (Belgium)

According to the report member states should provide resettled persons with a long-lasting solution, first and foremost by granting refugee or subsidiary protection status. Member States may issue permanent residence permits. The report also calls on Member States to increase resettlement efforts and the number of resettlement places in order to shoulder a fair share of global responsibility. The EU should take on at least 20% of the annual projected global resettlement needs, as defined by UNHCR, which would equate to around 250 000 people in 2017. Furthermore, resettlement should not be used for other foreign policy objectives, or depend on third countries' cooperation on other migration-related matters, as proposed by the European Commission. Instead, resettlement should be a humanitarian programme and the EU resettlement framework should be based on the annual global projected

Final trilogue on EU Resettlement Framework: arrivals, roundtable and statement by Malin BJÖRK (The Left, SE), Rapporteur

The Pournara Emergency Reception Centre for asylum seekers is located outside Kokkinotrimithia, on the edge of the capital Nicosia, in Cyprus. Outside and inside views of the camp with shots of the daily life of the asylum seekers in the camp. Shots of the established “safe zone”, installed by the EU Agency for Asylum (EUAA) at the Pournara Emergency Reception Centre. It is a special zone dedicated to fragile women, unaccompanied minors, women and children. According to Cypriot authorites, in the first half of 2022, 12,000 asylum seekers arrived in the southern part of the island.

Infoclip: New migration route - Pournara (Cyprus) - Emergency Reception Centre

Das Parlament forderte die EU auf, mehr für den Schutz von Kindern und Jugendlichen zu tun, die vor dem Krieg in der Ukraine flüchten. Die Abgeordneten stimmten für die Aktualisierung der Vorschriften über die kritische Energieinfrastruktur der EU, um sie mit den Zielen des Grünen Deals in Einklang zu bringen. Sie forderten zudem mehr Transparenz in kleinen Unternehmen, um das geschlechtsspezifische Lohngefälle abzubauen.

Highlights der Plenartagung: Minderjährige ukrainische Flüchtlinge, Energie und Lohngleichheit

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, Chair of the Committee on Regional Development (REGI) of the European Parliament, visit the reception centre of Ukrainain refugees Punkt pobytowy Wołoska 7.

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, visit a reception centre of Ukrainain refugees in Poland

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, visit Warszawa Wschodnia Railway Station and the facilities placed to receive Ukrainian refugees.

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, visit Warszawa Wschodnia Railway Station

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, participate in the Committee of Regions event “Regional and local dimension of the Ukrainian War" in Rzeszów, Poland to discuss the impact of the Ukrainian war on EU's regional and local authorities, aid available to refugees from the EU budget, and support offered by regions and cities in the EU.

Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee, participate in the Committee of Regions event “Regional and local dimension of the Ukrainian War"

Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, travels with Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee to Poland to discuss with national and regional authorities and civil society organisations EU’s support for Member States’ efforts in receiving and accommodating refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, notably the initiatives recently proposed by the Commission under the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe. Commissioner Elisa FERREIRA and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee visit the reception centre in Hala Kijowska in Młyny, Poland.

Visit to the reception centre in Hala Kijowska in Młynym, Poland, of Commissioner Elisa FERREIRA in Poland and Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee

Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Elisa Ferreira, travels with Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee to Poland to discuss with national and regional authorities and civil society organisations EU’s support for Member States’ efforts in receiving and accommodating refugees fleeing the war in Ukraine, notably the initiatives recently proposed by the Commission under the Cohesion’s Action for Refugees in Europe. They meet zith Grzegorz PUDA, Polish Minister of Agriculture and visit the border crossing in Korczowa.

Visit at border crossing in Korczowa by Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Grzegorz PUDA, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development and by Younous OMARJEE, President of REGI Committee

Grzegorz PUDA, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Younous OMARJEE, President of the REGI Committee in the European Parliament and Ewa LENIART, Member of the Sejm and Governor of Podkarpackie Region speak to the press following their visit to the Korczowa border crossing with Ukraine and their meeting with regional and local representatives, as well as NGOs working in the reception and accommodation of refugees.

Joint press point by Grzegorz PUDA, Polish Minister of Agriculture and Rural Development, Elisa FERREIRA, European Commissioner for Cohesion and Reforms, Younous OMARJEE, President of the REGI Committee and Ewa LENIART, Member of the Sejm

MEPs discuss what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation, following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine, which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market. Closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: closing statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs

MEPs discuss what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation, following the activation on 3 March of the temporary protection status for refugees from Ukraine, which gives them temporary residence rights and access to education and the labour market. Third part of the debate.

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AFET - Exchange of views on the recent allegations against UNWRA staff and the impact on the humanitarian situation in Gaza

Official visit by Roberta METSOLA, EP President to Lisbon (Portugal) - Meeting with Afghan refugees and with the EU Ambassadors

EP Plenary session - Address by Cate Blanchett, Goodwill Ambassador for UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency

EP Plenary session - Council and Commission statements - Situation of Ukrainian women refugees, including access to SRHR support

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

LIBE CONT Public hearing on the financial support for the Ukrainian refugees

World Mental Health Day: Migrants, Refugees and Mental Health.

Velomai Award Ceremony - handing over some of the donated bikes to Ukrainian refugees

FEMM - LIBE joint Committee - Hearing on the Situation of women refugees from Ukraine

AFET/SEDE Delegation to Moldova - Visit of the Palanca border crossing point and refugee center

FEMM extraordinary Committee - Exchange of views on the situation of women refugees fleeing Ukraine

Press conference on Parliament's vote on Cohesion's Action for Refugees in Europe (CARE)

EP Plenary session - Refugees in Europe: CARE

Roberta METSOLA, EP President meets with Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for Refugees

EP Plenary session - The deterioration of the situation of refugees as a consequence of Russian aggression against Ukraine

EP Plenary session - Address by Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for refugees

EP Plenary session - Implementation report on the EU Trust Funds and the Facility for Refugees in Turkey

EP Plenary session - Debates on cases of breaches of human rights, democracy and the rule of law - The situation in Kakuma refugee camp in Kenya