On 22 June 2026, the European Commission and the High Representative issued a joint statement ahead of World Refugee Day, recognising the resilience of more than 117 million displaced people globally and reiterating the EU's role as the world's leading humanitarian donor. The statement emphasises the EU's support for refugees, asylum seekers and host communities through international protection standards, access to essential services and durable solutions, while highlighting a first-time drop in the number of displaced people in 2025 after a decade of increases.
The statement notes that the EU hosts over 4.8 million people under temporary protection fleeing Russia's war in Ukraine, and delivers life-saving aid in crisis zones including Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Myanmar and the Democratic Republic of Congo. It points to the newly adopted Joint Communication on Humanitarian Action, which promotes an Integrated Approach to Fragility through public-private partnerships and investments in fragile settings, aiming to address root causes of displacement while meeting immediate needs. The EU also reaffirms its partnership with the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees.
With the first European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, the EU sets out a vision for a comprehensive approach to migration and asylum that is both fair and firm. The statement calls for global cooperation to protect the rights and dignity of refugees and asylum seekers worldwide.