On 28 July 2026, the European Commission and the High Representative issued a joint statement marking the 75th anniversary of the 1951 Convention relating to the Status of Refugees, reaffirming the EU's full commitment to the Convention and its principles.
The statement highlights the Convention's enduring role as the legal framework for refugee protection and underscores the EU's support for the UNHCR and the Global Compact on Refugees. It also points to the recently implemented Pact on Migration and Asylum, which entered into application in June 2026, as a key instrument for managing migration and asylum in line with international law. The EU notes that Member States have provided temporary protection to over 4.4 million people fleeing Russia's war in Ukraine and have pledged more than 10,000 resettlement places under the 2026-2027 Union Plan. The statement reiterates the EU's commitment to multilateralism, international protection standards, and support for countries hosting large refugee populations. No new policy measures or funding commitments were announced; the statement serves as a political reaffirmation of existing positions and frameworks.