EU announces 61,000 new resettlement and humanitarian admission places at the Global Refugee Forum

For several years now, EU resettlement and humanitarian admission schemes have offered a pathway to a new home and a life in dignity. At the Global Refugee Forum in Geneva, EU Member States announced their collective pledge for 2024 – 2025: 61,000 new places combined for resettlement and humanitarian admission for people in need of international protection. Of these, 31,000 are for resettlement, to be implemented in close cooperation with UNHCR, and 30,000 are for humanitarian admission.

During the Forum, Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson also reiterated the importance of the EU contributing to meet global resettlement needs. The new pledges include also the EU’s commitment to promote further complementary pathways to the EU and community sponsorship schemes, as well as to continue the funding for the Emergency Transit Mechanisms.

Offering safe and legal pathways to those in need of international protection also contributes to reducing irregular migration, by providing these people with durable solutions to build a new life in safety and dignity. Since 2015, more than 119,000 vulnerable refugees have found protection in Europe through the EU’s resettlement schemes. Since 2021, Commissioner Johansson organized three High-level resettlement forums with Member States, international partners, civil society organizations, UNHCR, and IOM, to encourage the Member States to contribute to this voluntary effort. In response to the Commission’s call, Member States made these new pledges for resettlement and humanitarian admission in 2024-2025.

Next steps

Resettlement and humanitarian admission, as well as complementary pathways, are a priority for the Commission. Work will continue alongside Member States, and with international partners – such as the US, Canada, UK, and Australia – on the collective contribution to respond to global resettlement needs. The Commission put aside €480 million over 2023-2025 to underpin EU Member States’ efforts in this regard. So far in 2023, the Commission has provided €246 million to Member States, about persons admitted through resettlement and humanitarian admission over the last two years.

The European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA) will also continue to expand the Resettlement Support Facility in Istanbul. EUAA will develop additional operational support structures for resettlement in other partner third countries, and promote information sharing and best practices on resettlement, humanitarian admission, and complementary pathways to the EU.