Federation of Young European Greens

Refugees are among the most vulnerable people in the world – especially when they arrive at places where they cannot stay while simultanously not being able to return to their homes. For those neither voluntary repatriation nor local integration is possible, so resettlement programs are the only viable strategy in order to continue their lifes peacefully, safely and in dignity. We, as Migration Working Group of the Federation of Young European Greens, want to express that permanent resettlement in third countries provide a durable solution to this problem and should be strenghtened.

According to the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 200.000 refugees each year are in need of resettlement. Currently several Member States of the European Union participate in resettlement on an annual or on an ad hoc basis, but there is much more potential to be exploited – concerning numbers and continuity of actual resettlements, concerning the improvement of inclusionary policies to help resettled refugees in their new surroundings by sharing practical experience and concerning the development of visionary ideas on facilitated migration into European countries. The annual EU resettlement awareness day should shed light on the importance and significance of extending the Joint EU resettlement program which is in place at the moment. Resettlement is a concrete expression of the commitment to protection of refugees. We feel the urge of increasing the number of states willing to resettle refugees and are convinced that the members of the European Union as dedicated to the defence of Human Rights have the duty to support the United Nations and supply the required capacities for this element of international protection of refugees. We take this day as an oppurtunity to remind the community of states of our responsibility to offer help, support and the access to equal rights for those, who are exposed to conditions that harm and restrict their lives.

Program for the day: http://ruitavares.net/ficheiros/EU-Resettlement-2012FINAL.pdf