Mr Chairperson,
I have the honour to speak for the European Union.
The Candidate Countries Turkey, Croatia* and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia* , the Countries of the Stabilisation and Association Process and potential candidates Albania, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Montenegro, as well as Ukraine, the Republic of Moldova, Armenia and Georgia align themselves with this declaration.
The EU thanks the High Commissioner for his opening statement and his strong and inspirational leadership of UNHCR.
Vulnerable populations around the world are today facing numerous challenges due to climate change, population growth, rapid urbanisation and food insecurity. The global economic crisis has added to the burden. Humanitarian agencies are also affected as their funding risks to be reduced at the same time as the number of people in need of assistance has increased. All countries must take their respective responsibilities to face the growing challenges and contribute to the effective functioning of the humanitarian system. For traditional and new donor countries this includes the responsibility to provide funding in response to needs, while keeping ear-marking at a minimum level.
Climate change is already testing the humanitarian system. Humanitarian agencies and governments alike need to reflect on the humanitarian and displacement challenges that climate change may generate. We have to continue to strengthen the humanitarian system’s ability and capacity to respond. There can be a need for new forms of cooperation and new roles for the humanitarian agencies, and it is important to identify possible legal gaps in relevant international conventions that might hinder the humanitarian system’s effective engagement.
We are facing a worrying situation with continued restrictions on the unhindered access for humanitarian assistance. The EU is deeply concerned with the situation, including the increase in acts of violence against humanitarian workers. On the occasion of the 60th anniversary of the adoption of the four Geneva Conventions the EU reiterates the importance that it attaches to international humanitarian law. We urge both states and non-state actors to take all necessary steps to ensure the respect for international humanitarian law and humanitarian principles, including the importance of safeguarding humanitarian space.
The EU pays tribute to the dedicated staff members of UNHCR, and deeply deplores that many staff members have lost their lives this year.
Providing refugees with protection and finding durable solutions constitute essential tasks for the international community. The EU expresses its deepest appreciation for the invaluable contributions made by countries hosting refugees.
The EU commends the work of UNHCR in promoting adherence to the 1951 Refugee Convention and its 1967 Protocol. The EU urges those states who have not yet done so to ratify these instruments, and requests states to implement the provisions of the Convention and its Protocol.
Finding durable solutions for refugees is challenging, especially when refugees are living in urban environments or in a protracted situation. The EU notes with satisfaction that some progress has been achieved concerning the High Commissioner’s initiative on protracted refugee situations. The EU congratulates UNHCR and the Governments of Burundi and Tanzania, for the progress achieved so far in repatriating and naturalizing Burundian refugees in Tanzania. We note with appreciation the promises of the Kenyan government to provide additional land in the area of Dadaab.
The EU is currently in the process of developing and further harmonizing the Common European Asylum System. UNHCR plays an important role in this process. The right to seek asylum continues to be a basic tenet in this process. Asylum will be an important part of the next five-year plan for EU cooperation on judicial matters and home affairs - the Stockholm Programme - aimed to be adopted by the Council in December 2009. In order to sustain the international protection regime, it is necessary to increase solidarity with countries and regions that are hosting the majority of refugees. One of the most important means to operationalise EU solidarity with third countries is the creation of an EU resettlement programme. Such a program could contribute to the global refugee protection mechanism by maximasing the number of resettlement places within the EU for refugees in need of protection. Beyond the aim of offering protection and durable solutions to individual refugees, strategically used, pooled resettlement quotas could encourage countries of origin to accept the return of their citizens and host countries to accept local integration.
Lately, the EU has witnessed the unregulated influx of people seeking international protection and the consequent human tragedies in the Mediterranean. In close cooperation with countries of origin and transit, international organisations and NGOs, the EU needs to work on a long-term basis with a wide spectrum of activities in order to avoid the loss of lives. The European Pact on Immigration and Asylum and the EU Global Approach to Migration are both important to this work. The EU will continue to support those EU Member States that receive disproportionately high numbers of migrants.
The EU supports UNHCR’s stated commitment to fully embrace its role with regard to internally displaced persons and encourages UNHCR to continuously develop its protection and assistance programs to the benefit of internally displaced persons and to adopt a needs based approach in the provision of assistance in situations of mixed populations.
The EU welcomes the internal reform process of UNHCR and its emphasis on strengthening UNHCR’s presence in the field, the focus on results-based management and the development of a needs-based budget. While the needs-based budget for 2010-2011 may not be fully funded, it will serve the organisation as an instrument for prioritisation as well as an advocacy tool.
The EU welcomes the High Commissioner's expressed commitment to humanitarian reforms and “UN delivering as one”, and considers UNHCR as a key player in making humanitarian assistance more effective, predictable and accountable.
The EU supports the full range of mechanisms at hand for humanitarian financing. The EU stresses the importance that UNHCR continues to collaborate with OCHA and provide maximum support to the Emergency Relief Coordinator and to the humanitarian coordinators at the country level. The EU welcomes the vital role played by UNHCR within the cluster system and asks that financing of activities are mainstreamed in its budget. The EU also urges UNHCR to continue to play a constructive role in the efforts to establish a framework for common needs assessments.
Let me conclude by warmly thanking the Deputy High Commissioner, Mr Johnstone, for his tenure at UNHCR.
Thank you.
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* Croatia and the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia continue to be part of the Stabilisation and Association Process.