On World Refugee Day, we will recognise the strength and resilience of the more than 117 million people displaced globally. Forced from their homes by conflict, persecution, violence and human rights violations, they continue to demonstrate extraordinary courage in rebuilding their lives and contributing to the communities that welcome them.
As the world's leading humanitarian donor, the EU and its Member States support refugees, asylum seekers and host communities, while promoting international protection standards, access to essential services and durable solutions. Through its international partnerships, including with the United Nations, the EU works to address the root causes of displacement and strengthen stability in crisis-affected regions and encourages other regions to do the same. In 2025, the number of displaced people worldwide fell for the first time in a decade, pointing towards the importance of this approach.
The EU has taken on significant responsibility in hosting refugees, including providing temporary protection to more than 4.8 million people fleeing Russia's war of aggression against Ukraine. And beyond Europe, the EU is at the forefront of the humanitarian response, from Sudan to Gaza, Lebanon, Venezuela, Afghanistan, Cuba, Haiti and Myanmar to the Democratic Republic of Congo, delivering life-saving aid: food, water, shelter, education and healthcare.
At the same time, the EU continues to invest in long-term solutions that help refugees and host communities build self-reliance through education, livelihoods, social protection, social cohesion and inclusion. The newly adopted Joint Communication on Humanitarian Action reinforces this approach through an Integrated 'Approach to Fragility', and promoting public-private partnerships for investments in fragile settings. It addresses the root causes of fragility and displacement by strengthening resilience, promoting stability, peace and supporting sustainable development, while continuing to meet immediate humanitarian needs. Through this approach, the EU seeks not only to respond to crises but also to help create the conditions in which safe, dignified and sustainable solutions become possible.
Global cooperation remains essential, and the EU's humanitarian and development partners play a critical role in protecting the rights and dignity of refugees and asylum seekers around the world. The EU remains a committed and reliable partner of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees and the UN Relief and Works Agency for Palestine Refugees in the Near East.
With the first European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy , the EU has set out a vision on a new comprehensive approach to migration and asylum that is fair and firm.
