Tenzin Nyidon
DHARAMSHALA, May 19: The European Union has formally urged the Government of Nepal to address the longstanding humanitarian and administrative challenges faced by undocumented Tibetan refugees in the country, according to an official communication from the European External Action Service (EEAS).
The letter, dated April 29, 2026, was sent by Charles Whiteley, Head of Division for Asia and the Pacific at the EEAS, in response to concerns raised by Members of the European Parliament Hannes Heide and Dainius Zalimas regarding the precarious legal and humanitarian status of Tibetan refugees in Nepal.
In the correspondence, the EEAS acknowledged Nepal’s decades-long role in hosting Tibetan refugees while stressing the urgent need to improve access to basic identity documentation. The EU Delegation in Nepal, as part of the Refugee Core Group (RCG) comprising the EU, the United States, the United Nations, the United Kingdom, Australia, Switzerland, and Norway, has urged Nepalese authorities to consider issuing Personal Account Number (PAN) cards to Tibetan refugees.
The letter noted that “most of the refugees do not have any form of identity documentation,” adding that PAN cards would serve as a minimum form of identification and enable access to bank accounts, employment opportunities, and other essential administrative services. The measure is seen as particularly critical for Tibetan youth and those with limited economic opportunities.
The EU also called on Nepal to uphold the cultural and religious rights of Tibetans by allowing them to “peacefully observe and celebrate important cultural and religious events within the country,” an issue that has remained sensitive amid periodic restrictions on Tibetan public gatherings and commemorations.
Additionally, the EU has requested that Nepal facilitate visa waivers and exit permits for Tibetan refugees accepted for resettlement in third countries or for those wishing to return to their home countries.
The EEAS further confirmed that the EU Ambassador in Nepal had previously written to Nepal’s Home Minister on October 17, 2025, formally raising these concerns with the government. According to the letter, the matter will continue to remain a diplomatic priority and is expected to feature prominently during the upcoming annual EU–Nepal Joint Commission scheduled for the second half of 2026.
