The EU's response to migration and asylum | New | European Parliament (2023)

FAQs

How did the EU respond to the migrant crisis? ›

Since the height of the migration crisis in 2015, the EU has implemented measures to improve its control over external borders and migration flows. The EU and its member states are intensifying efforts to establish an effective, humanitarian and safe European migration policy.

The pact builds on and amends the previous reform proposals. In line with a gradual approach proposed by the French Presidency of the Council in June 2022, the Member States reached an agreement on several reform aspects relating to the screening and registration of migrants arriving at the EU's external borders.

Article 80 TFEU clearly states that the policies on asylum, migration and border control as well as their implementation should be governed by the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, 'including its financial implications', among the Member States.

Rights under the temporary protection scheme include a residence permit, access to the labour market and housing, medical assistance, and access to education for children. Currently 4 million people from Ukraine benefit from the temporary protection mechanism. Data up to March 2023.

The Temporary Protection Directive enacted by the EU gives refugees access to protection and to the labour market across the bloc. This has been a major step. The EU has also provided additional funds for countries that have to shoulder the burden of the inflow of refugees.

The New Pact on Migration and Asylum addresses migration, asylum, integration and border management. It aims to create more efficient and fair migration processes, reducing unsafe and irregular routes and promoting sustainable and safe legal pathways to those in need of protection.

Competences. Regular immigration: The EU is competent to lay down the conditions governing entry into and legal residence in a Member State, including for the purposes of family reunification, for third-country nationals.

The Commission will continue to support these efforts, and to build on other aspects highlighted by this report. The New Pact on Migration and Asylum is a key part of delivering on President von der Leyen's commitment in her political guidelines. The first Report on Migration and Asylum was adopted in September 2021.

What is the EU's Common European Asylum System? The Common European Asylum System (CEAS) is the European Union's framework for asylum seekers. The CEAS sets out common standards and cooperation to ensure that asylum seekers are treated equally in an open and fair system wherever they apply.

Who takes the most asylum seekers in the EU? ›

Since 2013, Syria has been the country of citizenship of the largest number of asylum seekers in the EU.

The European Union is an area of protection for people fleeing persecution or serious harm in their country of origin. Asylum is a fundamental right and an international obligation for countries, as recognised in the 1951 Geneva Convention on the protection of refugees.

The European Union (EU) and U.S. have responded with an unprecedented solidarity by providing emergency humanitarian aid and warm hospitality to the Ukrainian refugees. But as the war drags on, it raises the difficult question of how to sustain the goodwill and long-term support for the refugees in the months ahead.

The document (with a valid passport) allows Ukrainian refugees to travel to another Schengen country or to cross the external borders of the European Union, as long as they do not leave Poland for more than 30 days (which would result in loss of Special Bill status).

Known as the Cohesion Funds, this includes finance from the European Social Fund and FEAD, the European Fund set up to help the most deprived. It can be spent on things such as temporary accommodation, food, blankets and clothing, psychological counselling, medical care and education.

The EU has imposed 10 packages of sanctions—or restrictive measures—intended to cripple Russia's ability to finance the war against Ukraine, enact costs on Russia's elites, and diminish Russia's economic base. Imposing sanctions requires unanimity among EU members.

Refugees bring productivity to their host countries, where they are integrated across various communities. They help enrich their local communities, creating a cultural diversity within the local population and helping nurture understanding and appreciation for social diversity.

A lack of cooperation. Every year, tens of thousands of migrants fleeing war, persecution and poverty risk treacherous routes to Europe in search of safety and better economic prospects.

The ultimate goal of refugee protection is to find durable solutions which will enable refugees to live in safety and rebuild their lives. UNHCR attempts to secure one of three durable solutions for refugees around the world – voluntary repatriation, local integration or resettlement.

What are some ways to help end the refugee crisis and help the countries affected? ›

The EU's New Pact on Migration and Asylum puts preventing and combating smuggling at the centre of its comprehensive approach to migration. The 2021-2025 EU action plan against migrant smuggling will focus on: intra-EU cooperation and exchange of information; emerging counter-smuggling phenomena; and.

The Pact sets out improved and faster procedures throughout the asylum and migration system. And it sets in balance the principles of fair sharing of responsibility and solidarity. This is crucial for rebuilding trust between Member States and confidence in the capacity of the European Union to manage migration.

Based on the PACT Act, we've added 2 new Agent Orange presumptive conditions: High blood pressure (also called hypertension) Monoclonal gammopathy of undetermined significance (MGUS)

Gallup's updated Migrant Acceptance Index ranks North Macedonia, Hungary, Serbia, Croatia, Bosnia and Herzegovina and Montenegro – southeast European countries that along with Greece and Italy faced the initial waves of refugees – as the least-accepting countries for migrants.

In 2021 Russia had the highest net migration figures in Europe at 320,617 people, while Turkey had the lowest with negative net-migration figure of 69,729. After Russia, Germany and Spain had the second and third highest net-migration figures in that year, at 312,735 and 275,022 respectively.

Anyone is eligible for a European passport, provided that they pursue one of the following three options: Get European citizenship through descent or ancestry. Get EU citizenship through naturalization. Apply for a European passport through a citizenship-by-investment program.

A person seeking asylum is forced to flee their country to another because of fear of persecution or for their safety at home. Asylum seekers are a type of forced migrant, meaning they migrate involuntarily.

A migrant is fundamentally different from a refugee. Refugees are forced to flee to save their lives or preserve their freedom, but “migrant” describes any person who moves, usually across an international border.

The Biden Administration's proposed policy would bar asylum seekers who crossed through another country on their way to the southern U.S. border, unless they had previously applied for (and been denied) asylum elsewhere or managed to receive an appointment at a port of entry through a new U.S. government app for ...

How many refugees has the EU taken in? ›

Recognition of refugees

In 2021, EU countries took 524,400 first instance asylum decisions. 39% of these decisions were positive: 112,700 persons received refugee status, 61,400 were granted subsidiary protection status and.

Migration flows: Immigration to the EU was 2.3 million in 2021.

A strategic document of the European Union presented in May 2015 outlining a comprehensive approach to migration management addressing the asylum and migration challenges as well as defining steps to be taken to ensure strong borders, fair procedures and a sustainable system able to anticipate future problems in the ...

Asylum is a form of protection which allows an individual to remain in the United States instead of being removed (deported) to a country where he or she fears persecution or harm. Under U.S. law, people who flee their countries because they fear persecution can apply for asylum.

Nationality of asylum seekers and refugees

In 2021, 42% of applicants were nationals of Middle Eastern countries, and 23% were nationals of African countries. This pattern shifted in 2022 with the largest nationality groups being Asian countries (31% of applicants) and European countries (24% of applicants).

Ukrainian citizens can currently travel to Europe's Schengen Zone without a visa or any prior authorization. However, it is expected that starting from 2024, all Ukrainian citizens will have to obtain a quick online document known as ETIAS before entering any of the EU/Schengen member countries.

Ukraine's desire to join the European Union dates back to 1993 when the government declared that integration to the EU is the main foreign policy objective.

How long can Ukrainians stay in European Union? ›

Coming to the EU

Ukrainian citizens have the right to move freely within the Union after being admitted to the territory for a period of 90 days.

The amount of the payment depends on the state in which the refugee resides. In 2023, the minimum will be $914 per month for a single person or $1,371 for a married couple.

Refugee benefits include the Reception and Placement Program. Matching Grant, Preferred Communities, Refugee Cash and Medical Assistance, and Refugee Support Services. They can also access mainstream benefits like TANF, SNAP, and SSI (if appropriate).

The United States has given the most in grants, valued at 25 billion euros ($26.5 billion). While big, wealthy countries can afford to provide more in absolute terms, smaller countries are making significant offerings of their own.

The EU has imposed 10 packages of sanctions—or restrictive measures—intended to cripple Russia's ability to finance the war against Ukraine, enact costs on Russia's elites, and diminish Russia's economic base. Imposing sanctions requires unanimity among EU members.

how did Europe respond to the economic crisis? Britain preserved democracy by electing a multiparty coaltiion, increased tariffs and taxes and regulated the currency. France also maintained a democracy. Scandanavian countries did as well with Socialist governments.

The European Union (EU) and U.S. have responded with an unprecedented solidarity by providing emergency humanitarian aid and warm hospitality to the Ukrainian refugees. But as the war drags on, it raises the difficult question of how to sustain the goodwill and long-term support for the refugees in the months ahead.

Mediation Support

The EEAS promotes the use of mediation and dialogue as a tool of first response to emerging and ongoing crisis. Mediation is part of the EU's preventive diplomacy, since the adoption of the 2009 'EU Concept on Strengthening EU Mediation and Dialogue Capacities.

According to observers, this is due to such factors as the unwillingness of the EU to expand to the post-Soviet space, the poor performance of the Ukrainian economy, the lack of democracy (during the 1990s), and the internal instability (following the Orange Revolution).

The United States and the European Union responded by enacting sanctions against Russia for its role in the crisis, and urged Russia to withdraw. Russia has accused the United States and the EU of funding and directing the revolution and retaliated to the sanctions by imposing its own.

How does the Ukraine Russia conflict affect the EU? ›

Energy prices have been volatile since mid-2021. The price of fuels in the EU has risen as a consequence of Russia's unprovoked and unjustified aggression against Ukraine, which has also led to concerns related to the security of energy supply.

The combined crises had catastrophic consequences for economic growth, investment, employment and the fiscal position of many Member States. The EU engaged in short-term 'fire-fighting' measures such as bailouts to save banks and help stressed sovereigns, while at the same time reforming the inadequate framework.

History of the Crisis

The crisis was eventually controlled by the financial guarantees of European countries, who feared the collapse of the euro and financial contagion, and by the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Rating agencies downgraded several Eurozone countries' debts.

The Eurozone Crisis began in 2009 when investors became concerned about growing levels of sovereign debt among several members of the European Union. As they began to assign a higher risk premium to the region, sovereign bond yields increased and put a strain on national budgets.

Refugee needs: $1.7 billion in 2023

In parallel with the OCHA appeal, the UN refugee agency (UNHCR) is also seeking $1.7 billion to help Ukrainian refugees in 10 host countries: Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Moldova, Poland, Romania and Slovakia.

Europe's unprecedented response to Ukrainian refugees faces new challenges. Governments are trying to find more housing and meet other needs, as the humanitarian situation in Ukraine may prompt more to flee this winter.

In addition to welcoming over 267,000 Ukrainians who have been forced to flee their homes to the United States and creating the Uniting for Ukraine program, we have provided $340 million in refugee assistance to our European partners who continue to host millions of Ukrainians, representing the largest population ...

Origins. The EU represents one in a series of efforts to integrate Europe since World War II. At the end of the war, several western European countries sought closer economic, social, and political ties to achieve economic growth and military security and to promote a lasting reconciliation between France and Germany.

A conflict of interest exists where a Member of the European Parliament has a personal interest that could improperly influence the performance of his or her duties as a Member.

The war added heavily to the inflationary pressures building up in the euro area during the post-pandemic recovery and pushed up consumer prices, especially for energy (Chart 2a) and food. Lane, P.R. (2022), “Inflation diagnostics”, ECB Blog, 25 November.