UNHCR Recommendations for the incoming Spanish EU Presidency
Spain is the first country to take up the rotating Presidency after the entry into force of the Lisbon Treaty. With this Treaty come new opportunities in the area of asylum and refugee protection, such as the establishment of a common asylum procedure and uniform status of asylum and of subsidiary protection.
UN refugee agency encourages EU to reinforce refugees’ rights
The UN refugee agency UNHCR welcomes the adoption of the Stockholm programme defining the priorities of the European Union (EU) on asylum and other Justice and Home Affairs issues from 2010 to 2014. At the same time, UNHCR calls on the EU to ensure that migration management objectives do not overshadow refugee protection principles.
European Council adopted the Stockholm Programme
The European Council meeting in Brussels on 10-11 December adopted a new multi-annual programme for the years 2010-2014, the Stockholm Programme, which will allow for the further development of an area of freedom, security and justice.
EU Member States granted protection to 76,300 asylum seekers in 2008
According to the Statistical Office of the European Communities, Eurostat, the European Union Member States (EU27) granted protection to 76,300 asylum-seekers in 2008. The largest groups of beneficiaries of protection were citizens of Iraq, Somalia, Russia, Afghanistan and Eritrea, which altogether comprised almost 60 percent of the persons granted protection status.
Fundamental Rights Conference in Stockholm
The European Union Fundamental Rights Agency (FRA), together with the Swedish EU Presidency, organizes the second annual Fundamental Rights Conference (FRC) in Stockholm on 10-11 December 2009.
Swedish EU-Presidency 2009
This website is no longer updated. It was a UNHCR Stockholm initiative meant to facilitate the monitoring of refugee and asylum issues during Sweden's European Union Presidency 1 July – 31 December 2009.
