Northern, Western, Central and Southern Europe

Operational Environment

As of mid-2017, the number of people reaching Greece via the Eastern Mediterranean route remained low compared to the same period in 2016. While arrivals to Italy increased significantly in the first semester, lower numbers crossing the sea from Libya in July meant that the overall number of arrivals decreased.
 
From January to June 2017 the European Union (EU) member states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland received close to 217,000 new asylum applications, which represents 46 per cent of the applications this subregion received in 2016 over the same period. The main countries of origin reported are Syria (15%), Afghanistan (7%), Nigeria (7%), Iraq (6%) and Eritrea (5%). Following a constant decrease from August 2016 to February 2017, the number of new applications increased again in March 2017.
 
UNHCR will continue to safeguard asylum space; ensure access to territory and acceptable reception conditions; support authorities with provision of assistance and referrals to relevant services; build and maintain effective and fair asylum procedures; prevent and resolve statelessness; and prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
 
Key priorities for 2018 remain the  protection of unaccompanied and separated children (UASC) and providing support to national authorities for the identification of and appropriate assistance to other people with specific needs;. UNHCR also continues to advocate for an expansion of resettlement programmes and the introduction of other complementary pathways for people of concern.

Response and Implementation

Mixed movements are continuing in Central Europe albeit at a slower pace compared to previous years. Refugees and migrants attempt transiting through Bulgaria, Hungary and, to a lesser extent, Croatia, Romania and Slovenia, to reach destination countries. Since most countries have increased the legal and physical restrictions and further limit access to territory, refugees and migrants often resort to the use of unsafe smuggling routes, including by seeking new corridors via land and sea. Collective expulsions continue to be reported throughout the region. UNHCR continues its efforts to work with key players including governments and civil society to strengthen asylum systems where possible and to provide protection to the most vulnerable people of concern, including unaccompanied and separated children, and survivors of sexual and gender-based violence (SGBV).
 
 
As a part of the UNHCR pilot for the multi-year multi-partner planning, UNHCR in Northern Europe (RRNE) is developing a five-year strategy together with partners and (new) stakeholders, which focuses on access to territory; lean quality asylum procedures, including reception; child-sensitive processes; ending statelessness and supporting solutions beyond Europe, including funding, resettlement and legal pathways. Strengthened engagement with civil society and the private sector to explore ways of facilitating integration is a key component of the strategy.
 
In Southern Europe, UNHCR will continue focusing on ensuring adequate reception and improving registration procedures, provision of counselling and greater governmental investments in integration. Contingency preparedness activities also remain important. Particularly in Italy, UNHCR is increasing reception monitoring activities, which should allow for enhanced data on reception and protection gaps and improve conditions on the long term. The trend of high numbers of unaccompanied and Separated Children (UASC) arrivals as well as the occurrence of the alarmingly high incidence of SGBV and trafficking are expected to continue in Italy and Spain. UNHCR will continue its engagement in more robust responses to address the special needs of UASC and SGBV survivors. Enhanced exploration of integration opportunities for refugees will be sought in all operations, e.g. through UNHCR’s engagement in the implementation of national integration plans in Italy and Malta.
 
In Western Europe, UNHCR remains concerned by restrictive legislations introduced in several countries with regards to border controls, asylum procedures and family reunification. In response, UNHCR has increased protection monitoring and will continue to promote safe access to territory and fair and efficient asylum procedures, and reinforce efforts to facilitate integration and find other durable solutions. UNHCR will also provide technical expertise, training, coordination with authorities and partners to prevent and respond to sexual and gender-based violence and other protection risks in reception centres, and to ensure effective protection to unaccompanied and separated children.