On 14 October 2016 the EUR-OPA Major Hazards Agreement of the Council of Europe held a conference on Migrants, asylum seekers and refugees in the context of natural and technological hazards in Lisbon, Portugal, to analyse how countries deal with migrants’ vulnerabilities. The conference concluded a two-year project on Migrants and Major Hazards and gathered 70 participants from all over the globe, including high-level representatives of international organisations and European institutions, civil protection authorities and INGOs working in the field of migrant protection and disaster risk reduction and management, including on unaccompanied minor children. The participants discussed inspiring practices in this area, as well as policies at European level through guidelines and recommendations for action. The overall aim of the conference was to take forward initiatives in order to improve the quality of services designed to support migrants, asylum seekers and refugees who are confronted with emergencies or disaster risk. A follow up project is currently being discussed.

A political document (Recommendation (2016)1 on the Inclusion of Migrants, Asylum Seekers and Refugees in disaster preparedness and response) was adopted at the 13th Ministerial Session of the EUR-OPA Agreement in Lisbon on 26 October 2016.