Refugees in Europe: rights that remain only theorical

A reality that is still misunderstood

As of 2024, non-EU citizens make up 6.4% of the population. Out of the 449.3 million EU inhabitants in 2024, 28.9 million were non-EU citizens. The situation of refugees is still frequently misunderstood. This is why “World Refugee Day“, which takes place on 20 June, is important. As it reminds us of the importance of protecting people who have been forced to flee their country.

Despite the existence of legal frameworks at both international and European levels, their implementation is not always guaranteed for refugees and remains unequal and difficult in some cases. According to IPSOS, 25% of people surveyed around the world do not know how to correctly define the term “refugee”. This gap in understanding leads us to ask an essential question.

Who is considered a refugee?

The definition of this term is based on the 1951 Geneva Convention, which forms the foundation of international asylum law. A refugee is a person who had fled their county because of the persecution or other serious threats and who benefits from international protection.

The Geneva Convention also defines the rights of protected people and the obligations of States towards them. One of the fundamental principles of these obligations is “non-refoulement”. Although international law protects people from being returned to places where they face persecution or serious harm, the recent EU approaches to “safe countries” have raised question about how this protection is applied. Within the European Union, asylum systems are based on principles shared by all members States, but their implementation varies from one country to another.

Rights that are not always accessible

In theory, once refugees are recognised they are entitled to essential rights such as the right to seek asylum, protection against forced return and access to education, healthcare and employment. These rights reflect the values of the European Union as democracy, equality and respect for human rights. Nevertheless, there is a significant gap between the rights that are recognised and their actual implementation.

Everyday life and its challenges

When a refugee arrives in a new country, they face complicated situations in their daily life. For example:

• Refugees generally do not have a banking history or local proof of residence, even though these documents may be required by some landlords. As a result, many refugees often find themselves living in inadequate housing or even without accommodation. According to UNHCR, refugees are between 40 and 60% of the total people who experiencing homelessness.
• For refugee children, school can be also difficult step, as the lack of language support or limited resources can make education much less accessible.
• The same applies to healthcare: without documents or an address, access to a medical care can become complicated or not possible at all.
• For people with qualifications and skills, the situation can also be challenging as their diplomas are not always recognised. And access to employment becomes difficult.

Rights that do not guarantee inclusion

According to the European Parliament around 40 to 45% of asylum applications are accepted. This clearly shows that protection mechanisms do exist but being recognised as a refugee does not automatically mean being fully integrated. The way society welcomes refugees does not depend solely on institutions; it also depends on the collective, on political choices and on the capacity to include others.

 This issue directly Eduxo stands for: a society where rights become a reality. A right that is not accessible is not enough.

World Refugee Day reminds us that protecting refugees does not end with the recognition of a legal status. It also involves guaranteeing real access to fundamental rights and the means to participate fully in society.

Full article by Alix-Ann Dumetz