On 19 June 2026, the European Commission and the High Representative issued a joint statement ahead of World Refugee Day, highlighting the resilience of over 117 million displaced people globally and reaffirming the EU's role as the world's leading humanitarian donor. The statement notes that in 2025, the number of displaced people worldwide fell for the first time in a decade, attributing this to the EU's approach of addressing root causes of displacement through international partnerships.
The EU has provided temporary protection to more than 4.8 million people fleeing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine, and is at the forefront of humanitarian responses in Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti, Myanmar, and the Democratic Republic of Congo, delivering life-saving aid including food, water, shelter, education, and healthcare. The newly adopted Joint Communication on Humanitarian Action reinforces this approach through an Integrated Approach to Fragility, promoting public-private partnerships for investments in fragile settings to address root causes of fragility and displacement while meeting immediate humanitarian needs.
The statement also emphasizes the EU's commitment to long-term solutions that build self-reliance for refugees and host communities through education, livelihoods, social protection, and inclusion. It reiterates the EU's support for the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees, and references the first European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy as a vision for a fair and firm comprehensive approach to migration and asylum.
The statement signals continued funding and policy focus for humanitarian organizations and host communities, but offers no new financial commitments or legislative changes. For EU member states, the reaffirmation of the asylum strategy may imply ongoing pressure to implement common standards, while refugees and asylum seekers benefit from sustained EU support for protection and integration programs. The emphasis on root causes and partnerships may shift some resources toward fragile states, potentially reducing direct resettlement quotas.