1. The EU is a leading international donor in situations of forced displacement. In 2023, the European Commission allocated most of its humanitarian budget of €1.7 billion to projects that addressed the needs of forcibly displaced persons and their host communities.
2. Refugees, asylum seekers, migrants, and internally displaced persons (IDPs) are profoundly vulnerable, facing greater risks of gender-based violence, human trafficking, and sexual or labor exploitation. A gender-responsive and child-sensitive approach in assistance, support, and protection of displaced persons is crucial, as the overwhelming majority are women and children, who are especially at risk human rights abuses.
3. Russia’s continued unprovoked, unjustifiable and illegal war of aggression against Ukraine caused a significant number of Ukrainian refugees to seek shelter in EU Member States. The EU stands in full solidarity with Ukraine and its people. The EU activated the Temporary Protection Directive, offering quick assistance and a clear legal status to Ukrainian refugees. Beyond this immediate support, the EU and its Member States are taking further steps to ensure that the beneficiaries can effectively access education, healthcare, accommodation and work.
4. EU efforts to protect forcibly displaced persons were complemented by the implementation of the Common Anti-Trafficking Plan to address the risks faced by those fleeing the war. The EU is also reviewing its Anti-Trafficking Directive to adapt to the digitalization of trafficking practices, strengthen the gender- and child-sensitive approach and improve data collection at national level.
5. The EU strongly condemns any attempts by third countries to instrumentalize migrants for political purposes. The EU is committed to ensuring immediate and appropriate responses in compliance with EU and international law, including the protection of every individual’s fundamental rights. The EU has strengthened its actions against smugglers by setting up operational partnerships with partner countries and by sanctioning traffickers.
6. EU policies are founded on the principles of non-discrimination, proportionality, solidarity and responsibility, non-refoulement, access to justice and the best interest of vulnerable persons as per our shared international obligations. The EU Charter of Fundamental Rights reaffirms that fundamental freedoms and human rights are guaranteed equally to all persons residing in EU countries regardless of their status.

The Candidate Countries NORTH MACEDONIA*, MONTENEGRO*, ALBANIA*, UKRAINE, the REPUBLIC OF MOLDOVA, BOSNIA and HERZEGOVINA*, and GEORGIA, and the EFTA countries ICELAND, LIECHTENSTEIN and NORWAY, members of the European Economic Area, as well as SAN MARINO align themselves with this statement.

* North Macedonia, Montenegro, Albania and Bosnia and Herzegovina continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.