On the occasion of the current refugee situation, the Ludwig Boltzmann Institute for Human Rights (BIM) recalls human rights obligations resulting from international and European law, in particular the right to asylum and the refoulement ban. Both are valid laws even when Europe faces increasing numbers of people seeking protection. This increase in refugee numbers reflects global trends, with Europe remaining moderately affected compared to other regions. High numbers of refugees will be “the new reality” for a longer period of time.