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I have the honour to speak on behalf of the European Union and its Member States.

First of all, let me congratulate the High Commissioner for the extension of his mandate in September.

Chair, High Commissioner,

We thank you for your remarks and for the report we have before us. The EU and its Member States share the deep concerns about the continuously rising number of forcibly displaced people around the world, owing to conflicts, climate change and food insecurity.

We reiterate our commitment to saving lives and supporting those in need of international protection, and express our gratitude to governments and host communities who have generously taken in forcibly displaced persons, showing true solidarity.

This has been a record year, with more than 100 million displaced persons at the end of May. In the Horn of Africa, nearly 1 million Somalis have been displaced since the beginning of 2021 due to drought. South Sudan, with a total of 4.5 million people who remain displaced, is also at the frontlines of the climate crisis. Russia’s war of aggression against Ukraine has alone displaced 13 million people, and triggered the worst refugee crisis in Europe since the Second World War.

The EU and its Member States remain fully mobilised in addressing the consequences of protracted and emerging crises across the world – in Asia, Africa, Latin America and the Caribbean, and of course on our own continent, where 4 million registrations for Temporary Protection have been recorded -, wherever conflicts and disasters drive displacement. We are committed to doing our part by contributing to greater international burden- and responsibility sharing, and helping persons of concern to the Office of the High Commissioner in third countries. Together with our Member States, we remain a leading donor in supporting emergency response, bringing together humanitarian and development efforts in line with the EU’s policy on displacement.

We welcome the efforts made by UNHCR to ensure the implementation of pledges made at the first Global Refugee Forum in 2019, and look forward to the second Forum next year. The 2023 Global Refugee Forum will provide participating Member States an opportunity to further strengthen global solidarity and responsibility sharing in a true spirit of partnership, including with refugees and refugee-led organisations. It will also offer an opportunity for UNHCR to further mobilise development actors and international financial institution in order to work towards more durable solutions.

Access to health care for forcibly displaced and stateless persons remains a significant challenge, especially when it comes to mental health care. The EU and its Member States believe that the Executive Committee Conclusion adopted this year will serve as an important framework for UNHCR and their partners to continue their crucial work on mental health and psychosocial services.

We also commend UNHCR for its engagement in situations of internal displacement in 33 countries this year. In this regard, we welcome the launch of the UN Secretary-General Action Agenda on Internal Displacement, and call for a robust engagement by all stakeholders in supporting its implementation.

Chair, High Commissioner,

Let me conclude, by reiterating our appreciation to UNHCR’s ability to stay and deliver together with its partner organisations and local actors, in increasingly challenging circumstances. The EU and its Member States remain strong supporters of your work and mandate, and you can continue to count on our solid partnership. Thank you.