Section 4.16. Resettlement and humanitarian admissions
Resettlement involves the selection and transfer of refugees from a country in which they have sought protection to a third country which has agreed to admit them as refugees with permanent residence status.xlvi, 1303
In the EU context, resettlement programmes are voluntary and persons in need of protection are identified as eligible by UNHCR.1304
Resettlement is an expression of international solidarity, involving several national and international stakeholders. EU resettlement schemes are based on national pledges corresponding to the number of third-country nationals that Member States commit to admit and aim to manage migration based on predictable timelines and ensure common grounds for eligibility, while carrying out rigorous security checks.
Since the introduction of the first European Resettlement Scheme in July 2015, the process has remained an important point on the policy agenda. Its role in providing protection was reinforced in July 2021 with the Commissioner for Home Affairs convening the High-Level Forum on Resettlement, Humanitarian Admission and Complementary Pathways (see Section 2). In 2021, most changes involved practical aspects, but there were some relevant legislative developments as well.
Based on preliminary EUAA EPS data, the total number of persons resettled to EU+ countries in 2021 appears to be higher than in the previous few years.xlvii
- 1303United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. (April 2018). UNHCR Resettlement Handbook and Country Chapters. https://www.unhcr.org/protection/resettlement/4a2ccf4c6/unhcr-resettlem…
- 1304European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs. (2022, May 3). Resettlement programme. https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/pages/glossary/resettlement-programme…