First report on relocation and resettlement

In 2015, around 880,000 persons arrived in the European Union through Greece and Italy. In May 2015, for the first time in the history of European migration policy, the Commission proposed to relocate people in clear need of international protection within the EU, from Member States under extreme pressure to other Member States of the European Union. In September 2015, the Council adopted two legally binding decisions which established a temporary and exceptional relocation mechanism for 160,000 applicants in clear need of international protection from Greece and Italy.

At the same time, with a view to addressing the global migratory crisis comprehensively and to showing solidarity with third countries equally affected, the Commission recommended an EU resettlement scheme for 20,000 people in need of international protection. In July 2015, Member States, together with Dublin Associated States, agreed to resettle over two years 22,504 people in need of international protection from the Middle East, Horn of Africa and Northern Africa.

As the flows continue in 2016, so far however only 937 people have been relocated from Italy and Greece, and only 4,555 have been resettled. The unsatisfactory level of implementation of both schemes is due to a variety of factors, including the lack of political will of Member States to deliver in a full and timely manner on their legal obligations to relocate. Until recently, the wave-through policy along the Western Balkan route was an additional obstacle to the relocation scheme as most eligible applicants travelled onwards instead of being relocated in an orderly fashion. In parallel, Member States were reluctant to resettle as people continued to arrive in an irregular way.

Following the Commission's report on how to restore order on the Eastern Mediterranean/Western Balkans route as well as the Conclusions of the European Council of 18-19 February and of the meeting of the Heads of State or Government of 7 March, Member States agreed to adopt a European approach and end the wave-through policy. They also noted the need to stand by Greece in this difficult moment, taking account of the very difficult humanitarian situation which is rapidly developing on the ground. In that regard, with the flows continuing, more than 100,000 migrants could be stranded in Greece within a month, according to the United Nations High Commissioner for the Refugees (UNHCR). They therefore called for a substantial acceleration of the implementation of relocation to alleviate the heavy pressure that presently weighs on Greece.

This Communication responds to the obligation under Article 12 of the two Council Decisions to report to the Council every six months on the implementation of the Decisions and the roadmaps for Italy and Greece. It also responds to the Commission commitment under the Roadmap "Back to Schengen" to report on a monthly basis on the implementation of relocation and resettlement. This Communication summarises the challenges identified and lessons learned in these first months of implementation of the relocation and resettlement schemes and proposes recommendations and actions in the short term to improve the implementation rate.

ESO: Background information: Relocation and Resettlement: EU Member States urgently need to deliver http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-relocation-and-resettlement-eu-member-states-urgently-need-to-deliver/

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