Brussels: Europe and the Arabs
The European Commission in Brussels said the Commissioner for Home Affairs, Ylva Johansson, hosted a high-level ministerial discussion online today with representatives from Spain, Sweden, Belgium, Germany, Romania and Italy, along with representatives from other member states.
In addition, representatives of the Schengen Associated Countries, the European Union Asylum Agency, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees and the International Organization for Migration participated in the discussion.
The high-level ministerial meeting addressed strategic questions around resettlement, humanitarian admission and legal pathways to protection in the EU, delivering the message sent by Commission President Ursula von der Leyen to member states ahead of the European Council in February.
The panellists also tried to explore innovative ideas, particularly with regard to the further development of community care models, including humanitarian corridors, with the aim of improving the impact of these schemes. Today’s discussion also sets the stage for the next expert-level Resettlement and Humanitarian Admission Forum on 10 May, as UNHCR begins preparations for the 2024-2025 Plan.
"The integration of third-country nationals into the European Union helps make our societies more cohesive, resilient and prosperous," said a European statement. This was outlined in the EU Action Plan in this regard. Earlier this year, the European Commission launched a new call for proposals for EU job grants worth €40 million under a fund to finance integration actions and complementary pathways. The main objectives of this call were announced at the European Partnership for Integration in January and the High-Level Forum on Legal Pathways to Protection in November 2022. The call is open until May 16, 2023.