It’s an honor to be with you and my distinguished colleagues, and I would like to thank everyone for taking the time to be here this afternoon for the launch of the inter-agency Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe: Eastern Mediterranean and Western Balkans route.

I would like to make three key points:

1. Challenges and prospects for 2016;
2. A coherent, comprehensive and coordinated response to the Mediterranean and Western Balkans Situation; and,
3. The Plan itself.

I. Current Challenges and Prospects for 2016

A. Unchanged “Drivers” of Irregular and Forced Migration.

 Migration flows across the Mediterranean are not new. What is new is that we are at a critical juncture. We are living in an era of unprecedented simultaneous, complex and protracted crises and humanitarian emergencies. At present, there are uninterrupted conflicts from the Western bulge of Africa to the Bay of Bengal. Moreover, apart from the Syrian talks, there are no active negotiations that offer any prospect of a short to medium solution to any of these. Hovering over this unpromising scenario is growing anti-migrant sentiment and policies that are leading to border closings, tightening of visa regimes and other restrictions that have the effect of delaying real solutions and pushing more migrants into the hands of criminal smugglers and an alarming increase in the number of deaths along the migratory routes.

In 2015, more than one million (1,005,146) people arrived to Europe looking for safety; at least 3,771 men, women, and children lost their lives attempting to cross the Mediterranean. In this first month of 2016 alone – in the midst of Winter –  45,361 irregular and forced migrants have arrived in Europe – a twelve-fold increase over January 2015. These are from Syria primarily, but also from Afghanistan, Iraq and other troubled areas; and some 156 have already perished at sea, 43 only this past weekend. If one asks what the forecast for 2016 is, the answer is another question: “Have the root causes changed that led to record numbers of refugees and migrants to Europe?” And, the answer is clearly “no”.

As migrant and refugee flows reach unprecedented levels – affecting countries’ capacity to cope – migrants’ vulnerability and their humanitarian and protection needs also increase significantly.

B. Complex, mixed flows

The nature and composition of these migration flows are mixed: originating from across the Middle East, Asia and Africa; flows include nationals from some 20 countries; these groups have different immediate needs, but all need at least temporary protection and assistance.

These mixed flows are composed of a wide range of vulnerable migrants; these include, e.g., a majority of refugees and asylum-seekers, migrant workers, trafficked persons, climate migrants, pregnant women, the sick and elderly, many unaccompanied minors, and persons seeking to reunite with their families. Whether or not those moving along risky migratory routes are eligible for protection under the 1951 Convention, all have human needs, coming as they do from countries where they face great strife, abject poverty or simply, hopelessness.

It would be too simple to reduce such a range of persons and individual needs to a single category of “economic migrants”, especially if, in so doing – intentionally or otherwise – the idea is to send them all home.

C. Migrant Needs

The fate of these migrants is of direct and great concern to us all – otherwise, we would not be here today. IOM opposes the restriction of movements based on nationality currently implemented along the route. This goes against the founding principles of European States and their commitments under international law. Such a policy also leads to an increase of smuggling activities as migrants remain stranded along the route. 

Even if legal and physical restrictions are put in place, the root causes pushing migrants and refugees to flee in order reach safety and dignity will continue:  conflict, instability and inequalities in Syria and elsewhere, generating high levels of displacement.

II. A Coherent, Comprehensive and Coordinated Response is Urgent

In light of these challenges, a coherent, comprehensive, long-term, coordinated response is required to ensure that migrants and refugees have access to appropriate assistance and protection. At present, the approach is primarily short-term and focused on security considerations.

A. Coherent

Disjointed piecemeal approaches will not work. At present, the approach seems to be primarily short-term and focused on security consideration. We believe that these movements are manageable for Europe; solidarity and coherency are imperative, however, to manage the disproportionally high migratory pressures currently being borne by only a few states.

Responsibility-sharing among the governments and all the concerned actors in countries of origin, transit and destination is imperative to a solution.  IOM welcomes the outcomes of (a) the Valletta Summit on migration; (b) the Western Balkans leaders’s 17-point plan of action; and (c) the EU-Turkey Joint Action Plan whose expeditious implementation is urgent.

B. Comprehensive

The emergency measures we are discussing today are a priority, but are only part of a larger response needed. A “crisis-mode response” is not proving to be effective and is not sustainable in the long term.

The Plan we are launching today represents the best opportunity we have at providing better protection for migrants and refugees over the next year. Its implementation will alleviate the suffering of hundreds of thousands.

However, this plan must not be implemented on its own. It is complementary to a larger response that looks at the root causes of migration and at providing credible legal alternatives for regular migration, ranging from resettlement quotas and other forms of humanitarian admission, to work and study visas.

No single approach will work on its own and we call all partners to keep in mind the complexity of these movements and the acute need for a multifaceted response.

The Plan before us today is a comprehensive response that addresses the drivers behind these migratory movements. The Plan promotes credible legal alternatives for regular migration – these options range from (a) resettlement quotas; (b) work and study visas in response to the Europe’s need for labour migration; and (c) other forms of humanitarian admission, both temporary and permanent. The Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe is, therefore, part of a broader comprehensive approach, and it is complementary to IOM’s long-term strategy for the Mediterranean and beyond. 

C. Coordinated

Our 65-year-old partnership with UNHCR, as well as with other UN agencies, NGOs, and civil society partners, is essential in ensuring that lives are saved; human rights are upheld; and desperation migration – and its risks – are minimized.

Our coordination with UNHCR – and other partners in the humanitarian community – is an important example of how the international community has come together to address the current issues related to migrants, refugees, and displaced people in Europe and elsewhere, seeking synergies while avoiding overlap.

Collaboration must go beyond the humanitarian community, however, and should involve all sectors of society. At present, public discourse on migration in Europe is toxic, especially after the attacks in Paris and the recent incident in Cologne. We need to step up efforts to counter the racist and xenophobic rhetoric that vilifies migrants and refugees, while at the same time promoting a balanced, fact-based discourse on migration. The support of governments, media and social media, religious leaders and civil society in general on this is crucial.

III. The Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe

What I’ve outlined so far presents the rationale behind the Regional Refugee and Migrant Response Plan for Europe. The Plan is the result of a collective effort among 67 international and non-governmental organizations; all of these partners are working tirelessly on the ground to address the needs of men, women and children on the move, fleeing danger and persecution. At this critical juncture, coordination and collective action are paramount to helping those in need, and I wish to thank UNHCR and all other partners in this urgent joint effort.

The Plan presents a framework for an inter-agency response that sets the overall strategic direction at the regional level, the Plan builds upon concrete actions to be undertaken at the country level in Turkey, Greece, the former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, Serbia, Croatia and Slovenia.

The Plan underscores the collective responsibility of States, institutions and organizations to respond to the challenges of large-scale migration in a humane, rights-based and sustainable manner. The Plan presents a set of measures that will enable the humanitarian community to assist those on the move. At the same time, the Plan supports governments in further developing and operationalizing a sustainable, comprehensive and cooperative framework for concrete action on refugee protection and migration management.

The response plan includes both a strategy and an appeal.

In terms of strategy, the goals are:

1. To design and implement a response that supports, complements and helps build Governments’ capacity to ensure effective and safe access to asylum, protection and other solutions; to manage migration in an orderly and dignified manner; and to protect the human rights of all migrants and refugee;

2. To ensure that refugees and migrants have access to protection and assistance and to pay particular attention to specific needs, taking into account the principle of non-discrimination and the needs of the local communities;

3. To strengthen national and local capacities and protection systems and ensure safe access to longer-term solutions for migrants and refugee. This includes a robust and protection-centred relocation scheme, as well as reinforced alternative legal pathways to protection, such as family reunification and resettlement;

4. To strengthen partnership and coordination among humanitarians and governments in setting common goals and an efficient and coordinated response.

The implementation of the Plan at national level, will be coordinated through the Refugee Coordination Model led by UNHCR. At regional level, coordination will be assured by UNHCR and IOM as co-Chairs.

I wish to thank all our colleagues who contributed to this document – especially those in the field. I commend them for taking into account prevailing ground realities and ensure that the plan is responsive to actual needs. I am confident that with your support we will be able to achieve the Plan’s objectives.