4.15.1.2. Implementing pledges
![icon for implementing pledges in resettlement](/sites/default/files/styles/full_width_column/public/2023-06/ar2023-41522-implementing-pledges.png?itok=nrkmPkr-)
Several challenges were encountered by national administrations in implementing their resettlement programmes in 2022, which had an impact on national priorities in this area.
Some challenges were still linked to the COVID-19 pandemic, such as delays in the selection of people previously referred by UNHCR
Some countries continue to face a major challenge with the reception crisis, resulting in a lack of sufficient accommodation places for resettled refugees. After the suspension of the Belgian resettlement programme in 2019 due to the lack of reception capacity, operations restarted in 2021. However, Belgium re-announced a deceleration of the programme in April 2022.
Similarly, the implementation of Dutch commitments was affected by shortages in housing. In August 2022, the Dutch government announced several measures to alleviate the situation in the national reception system (see Section 4.7). In this context, temporary measures were introduced until the end of 2023, aimed at municipalities which are responsible for the provision of housing to beneficiaries of international protection, including resettled refugees.
The new regulation for the national reception system for applicants and beneficiaries of international protection, including resettled refugees
Other impediments were related to the fragile security situation in some countries of first asylum, making selection missions and the transfer of selected refugees difficult. This included natural disasters such as the earthquakes in Türkiye and Syria. Other challenges related to the management of expectations of refugees who are to be resettled, when misunderstandings and frustration can arise for them and their families. Extra resources and additional efforts are needed to provide sufficient information in these situations.
In the face of these challenges, civil society organisations have stressed the need for national administrations to urgently invest and prepare their systems, for instance, with long-term planning of reception capacity and resettlement programming. Their resettlement programmes would then not need to be placed on hold, delayed or suspended. In this context, a joint statement was signed by several NGOs in June 2022, where several recommendations were made for countries to increase their efforts in this area.
Several studies evaluating resettlement programmes were carried out during 2022. The Irish Ministry for Children, Equality, Disability, Integration and Youth published a report, "Voices of Syrians-Resettled Refugees in Ireland", in August 2022 which presents lessons to improve future integration outcomes of resettled Syrian nationals. Key areas identified in the report include planning, cooperation between stakeholders and housing security.
Similarly, in the framework of the research project “Reorienting Integration” of the Aarhus University, a report was published in November 2022 with key recommendations for national authorities on the resettlement of Congolese refugees from Rwanda arriving in Denmark.
New studies were already in the pipeline in some countries to optimise the implementation of national programmes. In Belgium, Fedasil, with the support of the Migration Policy Institute (MPI) Europe, is developing a monitoring and evaluation framework for their programmes, in particular for community sponsorship schemes. The first results are expected by the end of 2023.
To assess integration capacity and the needs of resettled refugees, the German Research Centre of BAMF will launch a 3-year research project in the second half of 2023. The study will cover recommendations for decision-makers and contribute to the development of the programmes.