As the European Union continues to advance its efforts to establish a Common European Asylum System (CEAS) its relations with countries outside the Union are becoming increasingly important.  The expansion of resettlement thus adds to the existing European and/or national systems that deal with the asylum seekers who have arrived and are making their protection claims within Europe. 

Resettlement must then never be seen in the context of negating the right to seek/enjoy asylum in Europe, or be considered as a potential substitute for States' obligations under international and European law.

At the same time, resettlement is not the only way of addressing the protection needs of refugees in regions of refugee origin.  Comprehensive approaches towards the range of durable solutions—of which resettlement is only one—are required.  A tagnible gesture of European responsibility-sharing by means of an offer of additional resettlement places, is increasingly needed to respond to the protection needs of refugees in the world.

The following key reasons demonstrate why Europe should become more actively engaged in resettlement:

• Through resettlement, Member States can offer safe access to protection for those refugees most in need.
• Resettlement forms part of the European humanitarian tradition, yet Europe's contribution to providing international protection to refugees has diminished.
• The EU can promote a strategic use of resettlement, which benefits all refugees, not just those eligible for resettlement.
• Resettlement has proved to be an important means of promoting public understanding of refugees in general, and the benefits they bring to host countries.

To view the presentation in its entirety, please see the pdf file below.

Linking selection to reception in resettlement (422.9 KB)