In 2023, EU+ countries strived to fulfil their resettlement commitments while facing particular challenges at the national level. Priorities needed to be reshuffled amid a shortage of accommodation places to host resettled refugees. At the same time, emergency situations struck third countries in which refugees at risk were waiting to be transferred, such as the earthquake in Türkiye and changes imposed by the Taliban in Afghanistan.

The role of civil society organisations continued to be important in the implementation of resettlement and complementary pathways, including humanitarian admission programmes. The organisations participated in the referral of refugees, contributed to the success of evacuations of refugees at risk and supported in the safe transfer of selected refugees, depending on the agreements signed with EU+ countries. In 2023, their role in the provision of reception services, in particular housing, was key to ease pressure on reception systems in some countries.