Slovenia welcomed 27 citizens of Afghanistan last week, which would make this group mainly consist of family members, the second group of resettled refugees from Türkiye. The initiative is part of the country’s permanent resettlement project.
This follows the arrival of the first group on December 14, 2023, including 23 Syrian citizens who were also accepted into Slovenia as part of the permanent resettlement initiative. The refugees will be accommodated in the facilities of the Government Office for the Care and Integration of Migrants.
[A group of] 27 citizens of Afghanistan (mostly families) arrived here on January 25, 2024. They will be accommodated in the facilities of the Government Office for the Care and Integration of Migrants. Slovenia will receive financial resources from the European Fund for Asylum, Migration, and Integration for each resettled person.
The decision to accept these refugees was made by the Government of the Republic of Slovenia in 2022, and, in total, the country has accepted a total of 50 citizens from Syria or Afghanistan, with a focus on priority categories such as families, single mothers, single women, and up to five unaccompanied minors. The latter group especially includes victims of the earthquake that occurred in Türkiye last year.
For each resettled person, Slovenia will receive financial support from the European Fund for Asylum, Migration, and Integration, aiding in the successful integration of the new arrivals into Slovenian society.
In collaboration with the closely with the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees, Slovenian authorities have examined documentation, conducted interviews, and carried out security checks in Türkiye. The representatives of the Ministry, the police, and the Government Office for the Care and Integration of Migrants worked towards ensuring that the selected individuals met all the criteria for recognition of refugee status in Slovenia.
This is not the first time that Slovenia has helped in permanent resettlement initiatives. In 2016, pursuant to a governmental resolution, Slovenia resettled 34 individuals from Türkiye, all of whom were Syrian citizens.
The Slovenian government pledged to relocate 567 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece with IOM’s assistance. By March 2018, 253 asylum seekers had arrived in Slovenia with IOM’s help – 172 from Greece and 81 from Italy.
On the European Union (EU) front, Slovenia has consistently advocated for the European Commission’s initiatives related to permanent resettlement and transfers. Permanent resettlement measures represent a key aspect of EU migration policy. Member States view permanent resettlement as a crucial element of solidarity, providing safeguarding to those in need of international protection.
At the same time, the permanent resettlement programme serves as a strategic tool for managing migration. By offering legal avenues for individuals in need of protection to enter the EU, member states reduce the possibilities of human smuggling and trafficking.
