Today, the UN General Assembly Ministerial Week officially kicks off, again with high-level EU participation. On Monday, at the UN Summit on large movements of refugees and migrants in New York City, the European Union highlighted its strong engagement in managing the global migration challenge.
Specific angles of responsibility sharing were discussed in several round tables, following President Tusk’s intervention during the plenary meeting. First Vice-President Frans Timmermans chaired the discussion on a global compact for responsibility-sharing for refugees. He reiterated the European Union’s approach of co-responsibility as guiding principle in advancing a rules-based global order in a more connected world.
High Representative/Vice-President Federica Mogherini spoke at the round table on a global compact for safe regular and orderly migration: towards realising the 2030 Agenda for sustainable development. She underlined the need to work together to explore the opportunities human mobility can offer and the win-win solutions that can only be agreed in partnership with third countries.
Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos participated in the round table on addressing vulnerabilities of refugees and migrants in their journeys from their countries of origin to the countries of arrival. He stressed in particular the need to provide protection closer to the country of origin or to develop resettlement to reduce the risk of abuses.
Vice-President Kristalina Georgieva attended the plenary session of the summit, while Commissioner Johannes Hahn participated in the round table on addressing drivers of migration, particularly large movements, and highlighting the positive contribution of migrants.
