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STATEMENT

76th Plenary Session of the Executive Committee of the high Commissioner's Programme 

October 6-10, 2025 

Honourable High Commissioner, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates,

ü  We join other voices in thanking you Mr. High Commissioner for your outstanding leadership and your dedicated work. We are sincerely grateful for your remarkable efforts, unique vision and exemplary cooperation.

ü  The Council of Europe recognises the pressing challenges of today’s world, marked by war, violence and persecution. Despite international efforts, including those of the Council of Europe and its member States, unresolved conflicts continue to claim lives and drive high numbers of individuals to seek safety across borders.

ü  At their 2023 Summit in Reykjavík, the Heads of State and Government of the Council of Europe member States reaffirmed their commitment to the European Convention on Human Rights. As Secretary General Alain Berset said:“Protecting those who have no choice but to flee violence and persecution is both a moral duty and a legal obligation. This obligation is embedded in international and European law – from the 1951 Refugee Convention to the case-law of the European Court of Human Rights. Our steadfast commitment to these principles is what unites the Council of Europe and will continue to shape Europe’s democratic future.”The European Convention on Human Rights and the UN Refugee Convention contain guiding principles for protecting the human rights of refugees in Europe.

ü  Our commitment is concrete. Today, nearly 12 million refugees have found protection in the 46 member States of the Council of Europe. Together with UNHCR we support countries across Europe in strengthening refugee protection, with special attention on vulnerable groups such as children, older persons, and people with disabilities. 

ü  The scale of the challenges requires collective efforts.  By December 2024, more than 6.9 million refugees from Ukraine were recorded globally, including 6.3 million hosted in countries across Europe, while 3.7 million Ukrainians remained internally displaced.

ü  This issue runs through many of the Council of Europe activities. Today I will highlight only the most significant ones.

1.    As part of its pledges under the Global Compact on Refugees, the Council of Europe supports its member States’ efforts to align their laws and policies with international standards on the civil and social rights of refugees and stateless persons. Its Development Bank provides financing for emergency assistance and long-term integration. 

2.    A new Division on Migration and Refugees (DMR), was created in February this year. It aims to co-ordinate  the migration-related activities of the Council of Europe,  and liaises with our 46 member States through the Network of Focal Points on Migration. This serves as a forum where national authorities of the member States and the Council of Europe exchange information on issues and challenges related to migration including border control and security.

3.    The ongoing Action Plan of the Council of Europe concerning migration (2021-2025) has enhanced the Organisation’s acquis, guidance and assistance to member States, on preventing and combating trafficking in human beings for the purpose of labour exploitation, and the development, notably through the HELP Programme, of training tools for law professionals dealing with migration and asylum including at the borders. The development of a new Council of Europe Action Plan on Migration and Refugees through the 2026-2029 horizon will further reinforce the Organisation’s work and provision of assistance to all member States.

4.    Other examples of the ongoing Council of Europe action include promotion of education, linguistic integration and the recognition of qualifications, facilitating the Transition of Migrant and Refugee Children to Adulthood, the migration-relevant training of legal professionals, the development of the guide for practitioners on the administrative detention of migrants and asylum seekers. These are concrete results of our action plan on Protecting Vulnerable Persons in the Context of Migration and Asylum in Europe.

5.    Also, through The Council of Europe’s Group of Experts on Action against Trafficking in Human Beings(GRETA), PACE Committee on Migration, Refugees and Displaced Persons, the European Committee on Crime Problems (CDPC) which deals with Migrant Smuggling, the Council of Europe develops policies and mechanisms to tackle trafficking in human beings and migrant smuggling.

ü  The Council of Europe cooperates both with regional and international organizations. Some of the upcoming events are the following: on November 5 DMR is co-organising together with UNHCR a seminar to launch the Toolkit on How to Request Interim Measures under Rule 39 of the Rules of the European Court of Human Rights for Persons in Need of International Protection; on December 4-5 a joint DMR and UNHCR training event for judges will be held in Sofia, Bulgaria.

ü  Lastly, the Council of Europe will actively participate in and contribute to the Global Refugee Forum Progress Review to be held in December 2025, and it is ready to update and report on pledges to UN Global Refugee Forum.

Excellencies, Distinguished Colleagues,

The scale of forced migration is daunting, but the principles guiding our response are clear. The Council of Europe will continue to stand by those in need, to support its member States, and to uphold human rights and the rule of law in close cooperation with UNHCR.

Thank you.