On October 7, myself and EU High Representative Josep Borrell will convene a High-level Resettlement Forum dedicated to the situation in Afghanistan. This commitment was announced during the EU Member States extraordinary meeting of Interior Ministers on 31 August.
Both the High Representative and I will be at the UN General Assembly in New York this week (20-23 September) to discuss ongoing efforts with partner and neighbouring country representatives.
The focus of the October 7 Forum will be on helping Afghans most at risk. At risk not just because they directly supported Member State personnel but rather, because, over a generation, they tried to build a more open society. As I told NPR radio last week, we have people that have been fighting for our values in Afghanistan. And it's our moral duty now to do everything we can to protect them. Those that did so, particularly women, be it through teaching, studying, representing, providing choice and breaking down barriers, now face fear and persecution. They chose to live democratic values. They chose not just to promote freedoms, but to embody them in their life choices, their professional paths. They became our partners in democracy.
Now they need our help. Since the collapse of the Afghan Government, a number of EU Member States and civil society organisations have been active in proposing initiatives for the EU to offer protection, a ‘safe haven’ for Afghanis most in need.
However, our commitment to those at risk must be a global effort. Beyond Member State support, our Forum will continue the dialogue with the US, Canada and UK friends on how best we can work together for quick and effective support for our partners. And the foundation to make this Forum a success is solid. The G7 Leaders Statement on Afghanistan of 24 August 2021 called for cooperation and “a coordinated approach to safe and legal routes for resettlement”.
Resettlement from neighbouring countries (based on referrals from UNHCR, e.g. from Iran and Pakistan), humanitarian admissions, family reunification and the ongoing evacuations by EU Member States to the EU are all routes for providing protection for Afghans in need in the EU.
But the urgency of the situation demands flexibility. It requires combined efforts and expertise of Member State Ministries for Foreign Affairs and Interior. And equally close cooperation with the international organisations, UNHCR in particular. ‘Protection pathways’ must be constructed in a way that allows for rapid deployment, without compromising on security measures. Our #MigrationEU proposals provide those long-term security measures, with thorough, and most essentially, IT compatible, screening processes. A uniform system for our external border is the objective. The Slovenian Presidency has prioritised progress on this, which I welcome.
Making progress on border processes means that, with confidence, we can make progress on resettlement, an essential part of our #MigrationEU proposals, and an essential tenet of our EU values.
The provision of humanitarian aid must be guidance by the principle of need. We must ensure that support goes to those most at risk, in the country, in neighbouring countries and to those who are at risk of being taken advantage of by smugglers. And, among EU Member States, there is a renewed spirt of resolve. We will not be governed by fear, particularly if it risks restricting help to those who stood shoulder to shoulder with us.
We are also building on established good practice. The Resettlement Forum of July was an important step forward. Although globally focussed and pre-dating the Afghanistan crisis, the EU, the U.S., Canada and UNHCR issued for the first time a joint press statement that “confirmed their determination to work together and coordinate efforts to provide the much-needed solutions for vulnerable refugees around the world”. We put in place a strong coalition at global level. Now we are putting it to action.
The US, Canada and the UK have already made welcome announcements on resettlement for Afghans in need of protection.
A clear-headed approach can bring success. EU populations are firmly behind efforts to give support to our democratic partners. They want to see us step up our efforts. I am determined to making sure this Forum is a significant step in showing that the European Union and Member States can provide the kind of support that shows that our fundamental values are matched by the role of the EU on the global scene.
#TimetoDeliverMigrationEU
This blog outlines the benefits of the proposals on migration tabled by the European Commission on 23 September 2020. For more detail on the New Pact on Migration and Asylum see below.
For More information
New Pact on Migration and Asylum | European Commission (europa.eu)
Commissioner Johansson’s speech at the High Level Forum on Resettlement, 9 July 2021
Commissioner Johansson’s blog: More legal pathways to the EU
DG Migration and Home Affairs website: Resettlement and other pathways to protection
Details
- Publication date
- 19 September 2021
- Author
- Directorate-General for Communication