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

Ní bhíonn de rogha ag dídeanaithe ach teitheadh óna dtír féin mar gheall ar chogadh, ciapadh agus foréigean, agus tugtar cóiríocht do go leor acu i gcampaí. Mar thoradh ar phaindéim COVID-19, tá tacaíocht bhreise ag teastáil ó na dídeanaithe atá ina gcónaí sna campaí sin. Seo an bealach ina bhfuil an tAontas ag cuidiú leo:

Seo an méid a dhéanann an Eoraip chun tacú le dídeanaithe sna campaí sa Mheánmhuir le linn na paindéime

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

Tá an tAontas tiomanta do chabhair a thabhairt dóibh siúd a bhfuil sí de dhíth orthu. Tá réimse beart socraithe aige chun cosaint agus dálaí fáiltithe sásúla a chloínn le cearta an duine a chinntiú dóibh.

Seo an méid a dhéanann an Eoraip chun cosaint a thabhairt do dhídeanaithe a theith ó chogadh nó ó ghéarleanúint pholaitíochta ina dtíortha féin.

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

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.

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)

Situation of Rohingyas refugees, in particular the plight of children

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

Dadaab refugee camp (debate)

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

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

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

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

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

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)

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

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

Migration and refugees in Europe (debate)

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

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

D’iarr an Pharlaimint ar an Aontas Eorpach níos mó a dhéanamh chun leanaí agus daoine óga atá ag teitheadh ón gcogadh san Úcráin a chosaint. Vótáil Feisirí Eorpacha rialacha maidir le bonneagar ríthábhachtach fuinnimh an Aontais Eorpaigh a nuashonrú, chun iad a thabhairt i gcomhréir le spriocanna an Chomhaontaithe Ghlais. D’éiligh siad freisin níos mó trédhearcachta i gcuideachtaí beaga chun cabhrú leis an mbearna pá idir na hinscní a dhúnadh.

Príomhphointí an tseisiúin iomlánaigh: Dídeanaithe linbh na hÚcráine, fuinneamh agus pá comhionann

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.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 3/3)

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. Second part of the debate.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 2/3)

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. First part of the debate.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: MEPs debate (part 1/3)

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. Opening statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission in charge of Democracy and Demography. This transcript is a resul of an authomatic process. Please check against delivery.

EU Protection of children and young people fleeing the war against Ukraine: opening statements by Ylva JOHANSSON, European Commissioner for Home Affairs and by Dubravka ŠUICA, Vice-President of the European Commission for Democracy

MEPs discuss with Council and Commission what the EU can do to protect children fleeing war in Ukraine, in particular from trafficking and exploitation during a debate in the European Parliament in Strasbourg. 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-, the Commission and the French Presidency of the Council are working on a 10-point plan to enhance the European common response.

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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

David SASSOLI, EP President meets with Filippo GRANDI, UN High Commissioner for Refugees.