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EU will stand by refugees at home and abroad

20.06.2017
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Protecting refugees is both a moral duty, and the best investment we can make in our own security and stability.

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The EU granted protection to more than 700,000 asylum seekers in 2016 and is committed to providing a safe haven to refugees, and to supporting displaced persons around the world.

"Today around the world more than 65 million people are forced to leave their homes due to conflicts and violence, natural disasters or the very real consequences of climate change. These are 65 million lives, 65 million different stories. And we support them, within and beyond our borders," EU High Representative Federica Mogherini and European Commissioners said in a joint statement marking World Refugee Day.

The EU is the leading global aid donor and provides direct support to millions displaced by conflicts from Syria and Iraq to Yemen, from Colombia to Afghanistan, from Somalia to South Sudan and Libya, providing basic services, health care and access to education. The EU also works closely with international partners to address the long-term needs of refugees and support them in rebuilding their lives.

The EU is also working to protect refugees seeking to reach Europe, improve the living conditions of refugees on our continent and successfully resettle refugees across the EU Member States, including by reforming the Common European Asylum System and potentially adopting an EU Resettlement Framework, based on the principles of responsibility and solidarity.

More than 16,400 refugees from around the world have been resettled to EU countries since July 2015 and the EU is on track to reach its commitment of 22,504 by September 2017. 

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