11/01/2023 (Agence Europe) – In recommendations published on Wednesday 11 January, the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) has asked the Swedish Presidency of the EU Council - as well as the future Spanish Presidency - to “better protect refugees and forcibly displaced persons”, with the EU’s experience with Ukrainian refugees serving as a model. The implementation of the Pact on Migration and Asylum represents “an opportunity to ensure a comprehensive, well-managed and predictable approach to asylum and migration”, the UNHCR said, recommending “not to undermine this potential reform by other EU proposals that risk weakening asylum obligations, standards and practices and shrinking the protection space in Europe”. In addition, “solidarity and responsibility-sharing mechanisms” must be created without derogations. Link to the position: https://aeur.eu/f/4ur (SP)