In a press release, the UN Agency for Refugees (UNHCR) has appealed to Hungary and Belgium, the 2024 holders of the presidency of the Council of the European Union, to use their roles to step up the finalization of the Migration and Asylum Pact.

The UNHCR stresses the importance of ensuring the correct implementation of reforms aimed at upholding the rights and protection of individuals seeking asylum within the EU.

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Mobilization of political will as pact enters crucial phase

"The UNHCR hopes that this Pact will be a step in the right direction to implement precisely this aspect, and thereby calls on the EU Presidencies to mobilize the necessary political will as the Pact enters its final and crucial phase and calls on all Member States to act with courage in the interest of refugees", declared Gonzalo Vargas Llosa, the UNHCR representative for EU Affairs.

The UNHCR views the Migration and Asylum Pact as a potential cornerstone for establishing a global, well-coordinated approach to asylum and migration within the EU. However, the agency underscores the importance of implementing the Pact with sufficient safeguards to ensure its effectiveness. "Dangerous practices, such as refusing access to the territory and rejecting people, cannot continue", the UN agency said.

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Over 2,700 died in Med crossing in 2023

The UNHCR noted that over 2,700 people lost their lives in 2023 during perilous journeys attempting to cross the Mediterranean Sea. This tragic toll "underscores the urgent need for solidarity and security a the heart of EU action along migration routes."

The agency said it has long called for the sharing of responsibilities in asylum matters across the EU, as well as for prompt search and rescue missions and the swift docking of vessels in ports.

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