Europe's embrace of millions of Ukrainians who fled Russia's invasion showed that it's possible to welcome large numbers of asylum-seekers, and the approach should be replicated to receive those fleeing other nations, the head of the UN refugee agency said.
In an interview with The Associated Press, UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi described the European Union's response as “exemplary", noting that nearly 4 million Ukrainians, mainly women and children, have registered with the bloc's temporary protection system since the start of the war nearly six months ago.
That stands in stark contrast to EU efforts in recent years to keep migrants from Africa and the Middle East from reaching Europe's shores.
Some European leaders have sought to differentiate between the plight of Ukrainians and that of other refugees — a distinction that Grandi condemned as “racist.”
“If that's possible for such a large number of people, and since that has proven so effective, why not use some of these approaches also for other people that are coming to knock at Europe's doors?” Grandi asked.
Though it was created decades ago, the EU's emergency protection system was activated for the first time this year in response to the flight of more than 6 million Ukrainians over the course of just a few months — the largest exodus of refugees the continent has seen since World War II.
It allows Ukrainians to move around the bloc, gives them the right to work, and helps them to access housing, education and health care.
It has been credited with helping Europe avoid setting up refugee camps to house Ukrainians — like the ones that have existed in Greece for years and where thousands of asylum-seekers arriving by boat have often languished.
In the wake of the 2015-2016 refugee crisis, when more than 1 million people, mainly from Syria, arrived in Europe by land or sea, leaders erected fences within the EU to keep many from moving deeper into the continent.
The bloc has also spent billions to keep people, including those fleeing persecution and conflict but also poverty, from reaching its shores, giving money to countries like Turkey, Libya, and Morocco to stop migrants before they set out.
The number of irregular crossings into Europe fell from its peak in 2015 to under 200,000 in 2021, according to Europe's border and coast guard agency, although they are on the rise again this year.
While such crossings often attract significant attention, more than 80 per cent of the world's refugees are hosted by developing countries, according to UNHCR.
“Heads of government in Europe spent hours, days negotiating where, who should take a hundred people floating on a boat in the Mediterranean," Grandi said, referring to European leaders' inability to agree on how to resettle those who have arrived in recent years in Greece, Italy, Malta and Spain.
"And then contrary to that, millions (of Ukrainians were) embraced, accepted, allowed to have access to services in a very effective manner.”
Asked about the different responses, Grandi said he didn't think the European governments' policies themselves were racist.But he added: “Declarations that I have heard from some politicians saying the Ukrainians are real refugees ... And the others are not real refugees. That's racist. Full stop.”
Grandi didn't specify what statements he was referring to, but Greek Migration Minister Notis Mitarachi was criticised by human rights organisations and opposition lawmakers when he used that phrase to refer to Ukrainians fleeing the war earlier this year.
Other European politicians have made similar statements — with some arguing that many people seeking asylum are looking for a better life, rather than fleeing wars, and thus may not qualify for that protection under international law.