The European Union, in a statement delivered on 22 June 2026 at the 62nd session of the UN Human Rights Council, reaffirmed its commitment to upholding international law and protecting the human rights of all refugees, asylum seekers, and migrants, while also stressing the need for cooperation along migration routes and addressing irregular migration. The statement was made during an interactive dialogue with the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of migrants.
The EU noted that it hosts 20% of the world's refugees and provides protection to around 400,000 refugees each year, underscoring its attention to the fundamental right to seek asylum and the principle of non-refoulement, especially for vulnerable persons. At the same time, the EU reiterated its commitment to combating irregular migration, human trafficking, and migrant smuggling, as well as countering the instrumentalisation of migrants for political purposes, all in line with national legislation and international law.
The statement emphasised that well-governed migration requires cooperation between countries of origin, transit, and destination through a whole-of-route approach, which the EU described as not externalising responsibilities but seeking cooperation among key actors. The EU pledged to continue advocating for and implementing a human rights-based approach to migration cooperation, with support from the International Organization for Migration (IOM) and the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR).
The EU also highlighted its Pact on Migration and Asylum, which reinforces human rights monitoring by requiring EU Member States to establish independent national mechanisms to monitor fundamental rights compliance. The statement concluded by asking the Special Rapporteur for best practices on cooperation among states along migration routes to improve joint efforts.
The statement reflects the EU's balancing act between protecting migrants' rights and managing border security, a tension that impacts EU member states, migrants and asylum seekers, human rights organisations, and EU institutions. The EU's approach seeks to maintain legal obligations while addressing political pressures on migration control.