On the 20th of June, the World Refugee Day, let’s remember that seeking asylum is a fundamental human right. Eurodiaconia urges EU Member States to ensure equal protection for all asylum seekers and refugees, and ensure they enjoy all the rights to which they are entitled under European and international frameworks.
Our hearts are heavy with grief upon learning of the Pylos shipwreck last 14 June 2023, resulting in a preventable loss of lives while fleeing their homes seeking safety in Europe. Once again, this highlights the importance of establishing safe and legal pathways for those who are forced to embark on deathly journeys seeking refuge. Despite these tragedies covering our headlines every year, the supportive words from European institutions and Member States have not effectively translated into consistent policies. Instead, we continue to witness a worrying shift towards stricter migration policies.
The global number of people displaced due to war, persecution, violence, and human rights violations reached a record-breaking of 108.4 million. This figure represents an increase of 19.1 million of people seeking international protection, which marks one of the largest increases in recent years.[1]While the trends in global forced displacement keep growing, EU Member States continue carrying out illegal pushbacks, using violence at their borders, criminalizing acts of solidarity and denying fundamental rights to asylum seekers.
In this moment of adaptation to the latest migration flows, Europe should reflect upon the challenges and possibilities of our migration and asylum systems, especially, in the light of the ongoing discussions on the New Asylum and Migration Pact. Any legislation to bridge asylum obligations must be avoided. The Temporary Protection Directive showed the possibility of providing safe and legal pathways, rapid access to protection, wider access to social rights and freedom of movement. Moving forward, the EU should learn from these positive outcomes to make them a standard to all refugees, rather than an exceptional approach.
Finally, on the World Refugee Day, we proudly acknowledge the key role played by Eurodiaconia’s members in the reception and integration of refugees across Europe. Our membership offers essential support by facilitating access to social services, education, housing, and the labor market, and actively promoting more inclusive societies. Our member, Diaconía España, is launching the series ´Lives in Transit´ with the aim of offering a space to refugees and asylum seekers to tell their story, and to bring us closer to the different realities in their countries of origin and the diverse reasons to ask for international protection.
As we look ahead, it is crucial that EU institutions and Member States prioritize solidarity, equal treatment, and the inclusive integration of refugees, leaving behind protectionist and restrictive approaches. Together, we should celebrate the strength in our diversity and build a brighter future where all, regardless of their background, can find safety, support and protection.
[1] https://data.unhcr.org/en/documents/details/101302