Report from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council. Second report on relocation and resettlement

On 16 March 2016, the Commission adopted the First Report on Relocation and Resettlement summarising the challenges identified and lessons learned in the first months of their implementation of these schemes and proposing recommendations and actions in the short term to improve their implementation.

Since then, 9,928 persons have arrived in Greece. With the closure of the border between Greece and the Former Yugoslav Republic of Macedonia, between 50,000 and 56,000 persons are stranded in Greece and, according to first estimations by the UNHCR, 65% to 70% of those belong to one of the nationalities eligible for relocation. In addition, in Italy, well known seasonal fluctuations are being witnessed with flows increasing again. Since mid-March, more than 8,564 migrants have arrived in Italy.

On 18 March 2016, the European Union and Turkey agreed on steps to be taken to end the irregular migration from Turkey to the EU and agreed on a series of action points. The EU-Turkey statement foresees that all those that arrived in Greece irregularly after 20 March may be readmitted to Turkey and lays down the basis for the 1:1 mechanism, according to which for every Syrian being returned to Turkey from Greek islands, another Syrian will be resettled from Turkey.

Overall, progress since the First Report on Relocation and Resettlement has been unsatisfactory. Regarding relocation, the Commission set a target to relocate at least 6,000 persons by the time of the Second Report. This target has not been met. Only 208 additional persons have been relocated during the reporting period and relocation efforts were made by only a few Member States and associated States. The implementation of the relocation obligations therefore remains a priority to alleviate the pressure on Greece and Italy.

As regards resettlement, 5,677 people have been resettled so far of the agreed 22,504. In the short time since the application of the agreement set out in the EU-Turkey Statement started on 4 April, 79 persons have been resettled from Turkey to the EU under the 1:1 mechanism. The speeding up and increasing of resettlement efforts has become even more a priority as a result of this mechanism.

The Second Report on Relocation and Resettlement provides an updated state of play and assesses the actions undertaken from 16 March until 11 April (the reporting period) to deliver on the recommendations made to accelerate the implementation of the relocation and resettlement schemes. The Commission will continue to report on the implementation of relocation and resettlement commitments every month.

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-2/

ESO: Background information: Communication from the Commission to the European Parliament, the European Council and the Council. First report on relocation and resettlement http://www.europeansources.info/record/first-report-on-relocation-and-resettlement/

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