Written question – UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) – consequences of pulling funding from some UN organisations – E-001635/2025

Question for written answer  E-001635/2025/rev.1
to the Commission
Rule 144
Benoit Cassart (Renew)

On 3 February 2025, President Donald Trump withdrew the United States from some UN organisations and pulled funding from a number of them, including the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). As a result, the UNHCR is facing a funding deficit of several hundred million dollars, around 40 % of its annual budget. The High Commissioner for Refugees, Filippo Grandi, made an urgent plea for other donors to plug the shortfall.

• 1.What can the Commission do to step up its support for the UNHCR in 2025 to compensate for the United States suspending its funding? What would the geopolitical, diplomatic and humanitarian ramifications be if the EU were to shift its position in that way?
• 2.Heading 4, migration and border management, is one of the multiannual financial framework (MFF) priority policy areas and had a budget of EUR 22 671 million (in 2018 prices) for the period 2021-2027. Could the 2028-2034 MFF provide for a budget line for the UNHCR under that heading?

Submitted: 23.4.2025