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UN agency urges Europe to develop coherent response to refugee crisis

15 September 2015 – While welcoming the steps taken by European leaders at their meeting in Brussels to tackle the current refugee crisis, the United Nations refugee agency today said a robust and coherent response is still urgently needed.

Yesterday's meeting of the European Council of Ministers saw the formal adoption of an earlier relocation proposal involving 40,000 people.

"This is a single welcome step towards addressing the current refugee situation in Europe, but it is clear that much more is still needed," Melissa Fleming, spokesperson for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), told a press conference in Geneva.

"UNHCR is deeply disappointed that although a majority of member States were in agreement with a wider relocation proposal involving 120,000 people, a final consensus on this could not be reached," she added. "Decisive agreement is needed without further delay to address the needs, as is bold action based on solidarity from all member States."

Ms. Fleming said that relocation of increased numbers beyond the 40,000 could start to be implemented with countries that have expressed support. To succeed, relocation has then to be accompanied by large-scale emergency reception, assistance and registration efforts in the countries most impacted by arrivals, particularly Greece, Hungary and Italy.

She also noted that there had been some positive developments, including the offering of support to Greece in reception and asylum of refugees, as well as support for affected countries in the Western Balkans.

UNHCR welcomed the announcement of increased support by the European Union and other Member States to respond to the needs of refugees in Syria's neighbouring countries, noting that the majority of Syrian refugees are currently being hosted by those nations. It highlighted the need to address the root causes of forced displacement, not just in Syria but around the world.

"A comprehensive response to refugee situations needs diplomacy, political will, and concerted action for the prevention, as well as resolution of conflicts that force people to move," said Ms. Fleming.

She stressed that saving the lives of refugees and migrants at sea continued to be a priority for UNHCR, and that it welcomed the commitment to further strengthen the Frontex sea search-and-rescue operations.