Statement at the 53rd Session of the UNHCR Executive Committee

Mr Chairman,

Mr High Commissioner,

The European Commission associates itself with the statement of the Danish Presidency on behalf of the European Union. Let me first join others in congratulating you with your election to the Chair, as well as the other members of the Bureau. I also would like to thank the outgoing Chairman, Ambassador Molander, for his valuable contribution to Excom. We commend the High Commissioner for his Statement particularly for his dedication to provide durable solutions for refugees and for his guidance and leadership.

The European Commission acknowledges that UNHCR is a key partner in many crises where protection, security and advocacy are central elements of Community operations. Our commitment to support UNHCR in the execution of its core mandate has been longstanding. Our cooperation has been strengthened over the years in such a way that the European Commission´s involvement in UNHCR has become quite substantial.

Mr Chairman,

The year 2002 was marked by a further strengthening of our partnership. Strategic Dialogues of UNHCR have been extended with many departments within the European Commission. One very important outcome of these Strategic Talks is the financial support for thematic projects that the European Commission will provide for the first time. It concerns European Commission support to UNHCR activities in the areas of protection, registration and staff security. The European Commission will adopt tomorrow a decision of 11 million Euro to support protection activities of UNHCR in Africa. We indeed share the opinion of many partners that supporting the core mandate of UNHCR and at the same time continued focus on Africa, is crucial.

We only would like to express a note of caution on UNHCR becoming the only agency or actor covering all aspects in the search for durable solutions to refugee issues. By spreading itself too large, UNHCR could risk missing the proper delivery of its core mandate, which is the protection of refugees.

Mr Chairman, time is too short to give a geographical overview of our cooperation with UNHCR. A brief word on Africa and Afghanistan.

Africa has our continued attention and support. The European Commission is committed to address without delay the dramatic humanitarian crisis in Angola and considers that UNHCR will have a key role to play. In Sierra Leone, the European Commission has been supportive of the approach proposed by UNHCR for refugee caseload in Guinea and Liberia.

The European Commission is also truly committed to the current operations in Afghanistan. In fact we have been providing substantial humanitarian aid to the country in the past decade (more than 500 million Euro) long before Afghanistan became the centre of attention. For 2002 we have even gone beyond the pledges that we made in Tokyo (200 million Euro for 2002). Our humanitarian department (ECHO) has doubled its initial contribution and will spend this year more than 60 million Euro, including repatriation of refugees from Pakistan and Iran. We are aware that the High Commissioner would like to have more European Commission funding to be allocated to UNHCR for its activities in Afghanistan. While UNHCR is and remains an important partner, we look at repatriation of refugees together with reintegration. Therefore our policy is to focus on the sustainability of the reflux of returnees in order to avoid that this summer's returnees will become next winter's refugees.

Mr Chairman,

the European Commission is currently working on a Policy Paper addressing Development and Migration. Our objective is to deepen dialogue with partner countries on the issue of refugees. We want to help developing countries assisting refugees with a view to ensuring sustainable solutions to the plight of afflicted populations.

Regarding Asylum Policy, the European Commission shares the appreciation expressed by the EU Presidency, for the challenging exchange of ideas that the High Commissioner Lubbers and EU Ministers recently had in Copenhagen on the future prospects of the international protection regime. The Commission will follow up this dialogue in a Policy Paper to be adopted before the end of this year.

On our side, we are continuing to reflect on resettlement schemes and facilities for reviewing asylum claims abroad, in complement to fair and efficient asylum procedures in the EU. More generally, the Commission notes that the Common European Asylum System is progressively put in place. The deadlines fixed by the European Council in Seville mean that a comprehensive set of European legislation and measures should be in place by the end of 2003. This will allow the EU to express itself increasingly with one voice on issues of international protection.

M. Chairman,

to conclude, last but not least I would like to address the issue of our Status at UNHCR.

The European Commission participated in Excom as early as 1960. We became a major player in the humanitarian field culminating in the creation - exactly 10 years ago (in 1992) - of the European Commission´s own Humanitarian Department, known as ECHO. During these 10 years, the European Commission has contributed about 1,4 billion € to UNHCR, thus overall being the second largest donor of this Organisation. I know that we had some fluctuations in our contributions in recent years. But I want to stress that thanks to considerable efforts from both sides, we have managed to reverse the curb.

Meanwhile, as you know, new developments took place within the European Union. The European Commission obtained competence in the field of asylum in 1999. In those area's where transfer of competence has taken place, it is up to the European Commission as such to exercise this competence.

Given these developments and acknowledging the European Commission's role as a major stakeholder of UNHCR, the High Commissioner himself has been advocating for a greater involvement of the European Commission in the governance of his Organisation, as has been the case in other UN Bodies and International Organisations.

The former Excom Chair, Ambassador Molander, had to carry out a complex task explaining what in fact is a minor improvement of our statute. He managed remarkably well, gaining the support of quasi unanimity of the Excom Membership and I would like to thank him for his endeavours.

I do hope we can soon overcome the remaining reticence of essentially one close partner in the humanitarian field and that some apparent misunderstandings can be clarified and resolved soon.

It is somewhat paradoxical to oppose some minor changes in the European Commission status enabling it to match its role better, while calling at the same time for fuller involvement of the European Commission at UNHCR.

Why oppose an enhanced voice in a forum where we have been a major player for many years, whereas elsewhere in the UN system the European Commission - as carrier of EU competence - does enjoy an enhanced status.

I think it should be possible to overcome such contradictions.

Meanwhile, Mr Chairman, I want to stress that the European Commission will continue to play its part - both vocally and substantially - within the organisation.

Thank you Mr Chairman.

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