EU plans coming two years of resettlement agenda

EU Plans for the Coming Two Years of Resettlement Agenda

On November 7, the European Commission launched a new High-Level Committee to address resettlement and humanitarian admissions. The committee is tasked with planning resettlement initiatives for the years 2026 and 2027.

The European Commission announced that this High-Level Committee on Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission will play a critical role in shaping EU resettlement policies.

According to a press statement:

“The High-Level Committee will support the Commission in implementing the Union Framework Regulation, which provides a permanent and harmonized framework for resettlement and humanitarian admission to the EU. This regulation enhances safe and legal pathways to the EU for people from non-EU countries seeking protection.”

First Meeting of the Committee
The committee held its inaugural meeting on November 7 in the Berlaymont building in Brussels. This initiative is part of the broader Migration and Asylum Pact, introduced by the European Parliament and Commission last spring. Its primary aim is to assist member states in establishing humanitarian corridors to support vulnerable individuals.

Composition of the New Committee

The committee comprises representatives from the interior ministries of EU member states, alongside delegates from the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR), the International Organisation for Migration (IOM), and the European Union Agency for Asylum (EUAA).

The European Commission highlighted that the concept behind this committee builds on lessons learned from previous resettlement programs. These programs, initiated in 2015, have provided refuge in the EU to over 119,000 individuals in need of international protection.

Future Objectives

The committee will focus on the EU’s next two-year resettlement plan, determining the number of refugees to be admitted and identifying the countries and regions from which resettlement and humanitarian admissions will take place. This plan will cover the years 2026 and 2027.

Call for Action from the Greens Representative

Italian Member of the European Parliament (MEP) Leoluca Orlando, a member of the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice, and Home Affairs for the Greens group, and the sole official representative for the European Parliament, emphasized the urgent need for action during his speech. Citing UNHCR projections, he stated that by 2025, three million refugees will require resettlement.

“This figure alone underscores the need to improve the quality of resettlement efforts and accelerate the process,” Orlando said. He further stressed the importance of increasing refugee quotas in third countries hosting large populations of displaced individuals. Providing aid and support to these countries, he noted, is essential to alleviate their burden and demonstrate “solidarity” with their humanitarian efforts.

Integration as a Key Component
Orlando also pointed out the necessity of complementing resettlement initiatives with investments in reception and integration programs. These efforts, he explained, are critical to creating the best possible conditions for refugees to swiftly become integral members of their host communities.