EU Remarks – United Nations: UNHCR Briefing on the Global Compact on Refugees

Assistant High Commissioner,

1. I have the honour to speak on behalf of the EU and its Member States.

1. Thank you for debriefing us on the latest consultation of the Global Compact on Refugees, where the European Union and its Member States have engaged actively with one voice. We would like to also share here in New York some observations on the text shared as draft two.

1. The EU and its Member States wish to thank UNHCR for having carefully listened to the different interventions before revising the previous text, integrating many comments and proposing a balanced and well-articulated second draft, including between part A ('mechanisms') and B ('areas in need of support').  At the same time we should make sure the length of the text does not increase excessively if we want the Global Compact to be practical and operational, taken into account the CRRF as an intrinsic part of the Compact.

1. We are satisfied with the revised architecture of the text, notably the reformulation of the "Global Refugee Forum" instead of "Global Refugee Summits", the clarification of the context-specific focus of the "Support Platforms", as well as the clarification of the review and follow-up arrangements. The revised draft in front of us is clearly more solid and implementable. We therefore consider that the result is a very good progress in our discussions.

1. Regarding solutions, we find the new formulations overall satisfactory and equitable.

1. We are pleased to see that references to the 2030 Agenda have been maintained, though those could have been more visible. Similarly, we note that references to some important multilateral initiatives have been deleted, such as the Grand bargain: we are aware that not all States are part of it, but it is a, important effort to strengthen the response to those in need, among which refugees.

1. We also welcome the age, gender and diversity focus of the text and the attempts the mainstream gender-responsiveness throughout the text, although there still remains some gaps.

1. As the New York Declaration, the Global Compact on Refugees is, and requires to be, grounded in a strong multilateral and political will to address collectively and globally refugee issues with a renewed commitment. The programme of action itself is a non-legally binding document meant for humanitarian and non-partisan purposes: protecting and assisting refugees and their hosts.

1. In a spirit of togetherness, we are convinced that the Global Compact on Refugees can only live up to the level of our collective ambitions through renewed and amplified commitments by all parties, as the New York Declaration foresaw, which we suggest could be mentioned in the introduction as the basis for the Compact.

1. We therefore call on all UN Member States to not shy away from committing towards refugees and host communities. The Global Compact on Refugees is not about imposing additional standards or burdens; it is not either about opening up the Geneva Refugee Convention - it is about recommitting collectively to foster comprehensive responses through a cooperative framework and an improved global system of burden- and responsibility-sharing, as we all agreed in the New York Declaration.

1. We understand the legitimate concerns of developing countries linked to what some of them could perceive as risk of reducing, shifting existing development aid to refugees. Let us be clear that on the contrary, the Global Compact on Refugees should aim for additionality – and not aid reduction or diversion.

1. At the same time, development support can only be effectively delivered if refugees are included into national development systems, policies and plans. We are convinced that this is actually beneficial to all: refugees, host countries and local communities. Reciprocally, we are committed to provide development assistance to refugees and their hosts. We are also committed to continue providing humanitarian assistance to refugees, whenever and wherever necessary, in line with our wider commitments at the World Humanitarian Summit in Istanbul in May 2016 and the commitments of the Grand Bargain. We are equally willing to support countries of origin to tackle the root causes and create adequate living conditions.

1. We encourage UNHCR to further mobilize the entire UN family and make sure that the Global Compact on Refugees is mainstreamed by all UN agencies, including regional and international financial institutions, at global, regional and country level.  In this regard, we consider that the consistency with the reform of the United Nations is a key reference to be maintained in the GCR. We are convinced that, while recognising the primary responsibility of States, mobilizing all relevant actors (civil society, local authorities, private sector, among others) is also indispensable to fulfil the promise of a multi-stakeholder approach.

1. The EU and its Member States have expressed their observations in Geneva through a common EU statement and common EU written comments. We refer to our comments there for further details about our position.

1. Thank you.