Migration Crisis in Europe – Challenges and Solutions

Good morning, dear officials of the government of Serbia, dear guests, thank you for inviting me and my UNHCR colleague to this event, to discuss the issue of migration.

I would like to start with a personal observation from my 3,5 years in Serbia: this is a country that has a “tradition” of solidarity and hosting refugees and people fleeing conflict for more than 100 years ago, after WW2, and most recently of course Ukrainiens. I have visited many of the reception centers around Serbia, and I can only say that the services and support provided are some of the most comprehensive in Europe. I also want to say that the people staying there are exhausted, physically, emotionally, psychologically – no matter where they came from. Some have been beaten up badly at border crossing. Both as a UN professional, and as a citizen of this world, I find it one of my utmost duties to help them find durable solutions, here or beyond. Dealing with refugees and migrants is one of the core duties of the UN in Serbia. This is our Leave No One Behind Principle and commitment.

I would like to share 4 points with you today (stats will be from 2022 2023 IOM/UNHCR)

1. First a short overview of the situation for people of concern. At the end of 2022, around the world, there were over 103m people forcibly pushed out of their home, half of which are now out of their country, and the other half internally displaced. About 7m are currently in the wider western countries in need of some form of protection and support. US/Canada/Europe/Aus. Appreciate how little this is.

You know well the multiplicity of global challenges– growing conflicts, the climate emergency, pandemics, energy and food crises –Displacement is becoming increasingly complex. In 2022 alone, UNHCR has responded to 37 refugee emergencies around the world. Many of these crises are failing to capture the same international attention, outrage, resources, action as the war in Ukraine. Such complexity is lost in a simplistic debate over population flows and the toxic narrative depicting refugees and migrants as a threat and a burden.

Now what is happening in Serbia? Since 2015, more than 1.5 million refugees and migrants from 88 countries have passed through, of which between a third and a quarter were children. Last year, an estimated 130k have come through, from North Macedonia, Bulgaria, Bosnia and Herzegovina – about 1/3rd with help from cross-border smuggling and trafficking networks. The vast majority comes from Afghanistan, Syria, Irak. 45% state they flee war. Migration dynamics are evolving again: arrivals of migrants, who are registered in Serbian reception and asylum facilities have increased, with first quarter of 2023 registering the highest number of arrivals since 2017. Most migrants remain in irregular situation, with few in asylum or other formal procedures. They spend on average under a week in Serbia en route to the EU.

2. Much of what we do is framed under the Global Migration compact and the Global Refugee compact, which most of your governments have signed on. These global agreements are anchored in the principles and purposes of the UN Charter and the Universal Declaration of Human Rights. Why? Migrants in irregular situations, internally displaced persons, stateless individuals are disproportionately vulnerable to discrimination and exploitation. Human rights violations against migrants can include denial of civil right, arbitrary detention, torture, or a lack of due process, as well as denial of economic, social and cultural rights such as the rights to health, housing or education. There are also attitudes of prejudice or xenophobia. When we promote a human right based approach, we see migration management as cutting through multiple mandates and sectors. Here in Serbia, besides a direct engagement with the ministry of interior, we work with the commissioner for refugees and migrants, the ministry of human and minority rights, the Commissioner for the promotion of equality and non-discrimination, the ministry of social affairs, education and also the media, NGOs and the private sector etc.

In the current global context, we also see that migration management is often linked to border management, where in many cases, basic human rights principles and compliance with international agreements are violated, with people experiencing violence or lack of legal assistance. Border fences will only slow down migration flow temporarily. Fences rarely prevent people from moving, it will only make their journey longer and more dangerous. In April 23, IOM released a survey where 96% of migrants reported they will try again if their journey is unsuccessful.

3. Considering the global trends in mixed migrations and displacement, the United Nations is increasingly advocating for a change in narrative from one of crisis management to one of migration management that creates opportunities for both the people of concern, and the local communities. How do we get there?

• We need to be more systematic with the application of a full migration management flow. It is important to ensure access to all legal migration pathways, either through protection pathways or regularization, including alternatives to detention. This is about of registration and confirmation of identity to allow for full and effective processing of each case, assess needs, determine their best interests, and provide additional support during the case management process - towards sustainable migration solutions.
• We need to put greater consideration to asylum seeking persons and expediting such applications – this means also increasing capacities of the relevant institutions.
• We can explore local opportunities to resettlement and integration in countries of asylum or third country – in view of current demographic dynamics, labour needs, etc. This is really something that we are encouraging here in Serbia, as there are plenty of labour opportunities – and the country is already using formal employment agreements with other countries providing labour.  We have great examples with Ikea, with universities, and we can build on.
• When it comes to return, we should remember that organised return is the preferred option for many refugees, ultimately. But so long as peace remains elusive, return should not be forced, and interim solutions, including long term, should be privileged.
• Detention of migrants should not become a policy option.

4. Finally, when we talk about migration, we should also remember that many citizens from southeastern Europe are seeking new opportunities elsewhere in Europe. The labour market across Europe is dynamic, sometimes tensed, for both qualified and non-qualified jobs. These are opportunities for countries, communities, refugees and migrants, to build a new world, based on both solidarity and economic requirements. Refugees, like migrants and others on the move in this era of large human mobility, are not just vulnerable people in need of help - they are also strong, effective, courageous contributors to communities hosting them, and to societies as a whole.
5. As a conclusion, I would like to share a personal reflection: The suffering, loss and despair of 103 million uprooted people, are not the fantasy of idealistic UN or NGO workers. They are very, very real. We live in a world of inequality – where extraordinary levels of suffering are getting scandalously low levels of attention and resources. A world where those that have contributed the least to global challenges are suffering most from their consequences.