Today is World Refugee Day: a day of growing concern for the international community as thenumber of displaced people around the world soars to a dramatic new high - Joint statement

EUROPEA5 U5IO5

Brussels, 20 June 2013

A 334/13

Joint Statement on World Refugee Day

Catherine Ashton, High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy,

Cecilia Malmström, Commissioner for Home Affairs, Andris Piebalgs, Commissioner for

Development,

and

Kristalina

Georgieva,

Commissioner

for

International

Cooperation,

Humanitarian Aid and Crisis Response, made today the following statement:

“Today is World Refugee Day: a day of growing concern for the international community as the

number of displaced people around the world soars to a dramatic new high. We can count the number

of refugees – more than 46 million, according to the U" High Commissioner for Refugees – but we

cannot quantify the human suffering, the broken families, destroyed childhoods and livelihoods that

come with fleeing a war or a disaster.

In Europe, we have a particular reason to think about refugees and displaced people now that war on

our doorstep has displaced more than six million Syrians, 1.6 million of whom are refugees.

Alongside the efforts on the political front, the EU provides humanitarian and other assistance to the

Syrians affected by the conflict, both those that still remain in Syria, and those who have fled the

country. Conscious of the growing pressure on the host communities in Lebanon, Jordan and Turkey,

we are also seeking to help them deal with the refugees. To date, €840 million in assistance has been

committed by Member States and the European Commission. The EU has also recently announced

that it will deploy an additional package of €400 million in aid for Syrians.

Another sign of Europe's lasting commitment to helping refugees is today's adoption by the EU of the

final element of the Common European Asylum System, the culmination of many years of work to

ensure a better, more humane treatment of those seeking protection.

It will provide better access to the asylum procedure for those who seek protection; it will lead to

fairer, quicker and better quality asylum decisions; it will ensure that people in fear of persecution

P R E S S

FOR FURTHER DETAILS:

Michael Mann +32 498 999 780 - +32 2 584 9780- [email protected]

Maja Kocijancic +32 498 984 425 - +32 2 298 65 70 - [email protected]

Sebastien Brabant +32 460 75 09 98 - [email protected]

Eamonn Prendergast +32 460 753 293 - +32 2 299 88 51 - [email protected]

Follow us on Twitter@eu_eeas

www.eeas.europa.eu

E5

will not be returned to danger and it will guarantee dignified and decent conditions for those who

seek shelter in the EU.

Our common system will put an end to the striking differences in the outcome of asylum applications

across the EU. It will improve the material conditions in which asylum-seekers are received and

provide common procedural rights which they are accorded. These measures will greatly increase the

credibility and effectiveness of the European asylum system.

Our new laws introduce guarantees for the most vulnerable, in particular minors and victims of

torture or violence; there is now specific recognition that Member States should take steps to avoid

detention of asylum-seekers.

And for those who see their asylum request accepted and are therefore granted international

protection, the new rules harmonise the benefits that go with such a status, especially in terms of

residence rights and easier access to employment and health care.

These changes will now need to be implemented across the Union to ensure that the common

standards are applied in practice.

The European Union is a union built on values. The most precious of them is solidarity towards those

who have been less fortunate and who need our help to survive and live with dignity. This is why the

EU will continue to lead the international community in helping displaced people around the world

and in welcoming those seeking refuge from persecution and conflict. Asylum seekers entitled to

protection should be offered the prospect of a decent life and the opportunity to make a contribution

to our societies. We are confident that our common European asylum policy, which has just been

agreed upon, will help to make that aspiration a reality.”

____________________

2

E5

بيان مشترك في اليوم العالمي للاجئين 2013 من الممثلة العليا كاثرين أشتون والمفوضين مالمستروم وبيبالغس وجورجيفا، يشير إلى تهجير أكثر من ستة ملايين سوري وإعلان حزمة مساعدات بقيمة 400 مليون يورو.