WHEN I read the European Commission’s statement ahead of World Refugee Day, something felt off.
The commission, headed by Ursula Von Der Leyen, reflects on providing protection to those from Ukraine and assisting those in Sudan, Gaza, Lebanon, Venezuela, Afghanistan and Haiti with “aid, food, water and shelter”.
It read: "On World Refugee Day, we will recognise the strength and resilience of the more than 117 million people displaced globally.
"Forced from their homes by conflict, persecution, violence and human rights violations, they continue to demonstrate extraordinary courage in rebuilding their lives and contributing to the communities that welcome them."
In outlining the details of the new European Asylum and Migration Management Strategy, Von Der Leyen said: "Migration is a European challenge which must be met with a European solution.
"One that is effective, fair and firm. This is what the Pact on Migration and Asylum delivers -more secure external borders, solidarity between Member States and more efficient procedures for asylum and return."
But for many refugees, the promise of fairness is familiar, yet unconvincing. They've already seen how asylum policies are enforced in practice.
Charities across the continent have repeatedly voiced concerns over asylum measures, including the recently passed Deportation Regulation law, which will allow for home raids and invasive data searches.
This particular law will also enable the creation of offshore return hubs, centres outside the EU where undocumented people would be held for unspecified periods, pending return to their home country.
According to Statewatch, the European Border and Coast Guard Agency, better known as Frontex, could be expanded by the end of the year, despite it being under fire for its alleged involvement in human rights violations in recent years.
For Statewatch, Policy analyst, Marloes Streppel, wrote, "The EU’s border agency Frontex is due a mandate review in 2026. It is very likely that the headcount of Frontex’s uniformed officer force, known as the Standing Corps, will be increased, but that is only the start.
"The mandate review is also expected to act as a gateway to expanding Frontex’s role in deportations, including deportations between non-EU countries, as well as Frontex’s role in the controversial 'return hubs' system expected to be rolled out in the coming years."
In particular, its been accused of the illegal border practice of “pushbacks” between Greece and Turkey, and in 2024, the agency was slammed for the alleged beating of asylum seekers.
In speaking to refugees in Calais, it's not just Frontex, and many share their stories of the violence suffered at the hands of police in EU member states, particularly in France and Italy.
And where there's no violence, there's psychological cruelty.
In September 2024, twelve people, including six children and a pregnant woman from Eritrea, died whilst trying to cross the Channel when their boat ripped open in what was considered at the time to be "one of the worst Channel tragedies".
The day before, volunteers from Care4Calais were providing clothing to families and playing games with the children. But less than 24 hours after the tragedy, French police raided a small site where the Eritrean communitiy where staying, seizing tents and cutting down trees to prevent shelter.
People who were mourning the deaths of those on board were left with nowhere to shelter from the pouring rain and, at a moment of immense grief, were denied their dignity by French police.
At the time, Care4Calais wrote: "This morning, the site where many Eritreans - some of whom could be survivors of the tragedy - was cruelly and brutally cleared by police.
"People's tents and belongings were seized and destroyed, leaving them with nothing, and the site itself was made unlivable.
"This callousness, in light of the profound pain felt by the deaths of loved ones in our Channel, makes us more angry."
Police brutality continues across the continent, and while the commission has at times spoken out against the violence and called for investigations, frankly, it's not doing enough.
This year, a report by Félix Díaz and charity Europe Must Act recorded an incident of an asylum seeker being attacked by a border police dog, as well as police confiscating phones, food, water, money and other belongings.
Overall, the report claimed, "The European Union is consolidating a policy of dejection, deportation and deterrence towards displaced people in need for protection from violence or in search for a better life.
"This policy is materialised and updated in the regulations emerging from the New European Pact on Asylum.
So while the words from the commission about the " extraordinary courage" of those seeking safety feel empty against a background of continuing abuse and cruelty within member states.
A policy being "fair" seems promising, but I can't help but feel that when the EU Commission issues its statement for World Refugee Day, it just feels like hollow solidarity.
