Avramopoulos oversees first relocation of asylum seekers

The first relocation of asylum seekers under the scheme approved by the European Union in September 2015 took place on 9 October 2015. Around 20 Eritreans were relocated from Italy to Sweden.

Migration and Home Affairs Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos was expected to oversee this procedure on the ground. On the previous day, Justice and Home Affairs ministers agreed to step up deportations of illegal immigrants and discussed creating an EU border force.

• Primary Source

EU Law Analysis, 29.09.15: ‘Hotspots’ for asylum applications: some things we urgently need to know http://www.europeansources.info/record/hotspots-for-asylum-applications-some-things-we-urgently-need-to-know/

ESO: Background information: Cold weather, new laws, harden EU refugee trail http://www.europeansources.info/record/cold-weather-new-laws-harden-eu-refugee-trail/

ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/

EASO; Press Release, 08.10.15: EASO supports the relocation process from Italy https://easo.europa.eu/wp-content/uploads/PRESS-RELEASE-EASO-supports-the-relocation-process-from-Italy1.pdf

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: IP/15/5799, 08.10.15: Commissioner Avramopoulos and Minister Asselborn in Italy: First Relocation Flight and Hotspot visit http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-15-5799_en.htm

European Commission: DG Home Affairs: The Hotspot Approach to Managing Exceptional Migratory Flows, 2015 http://ec.europa.eu/dgs/home-affairs/what-we-do/policies/european-agenda-migration/background-information/docs/2_hotspots_en.pdf

EUObserver, 01.10.15: Italy to relocate asylum seekers 'in coming days' https://euobserver.com/migration/130498

EurActiv, 02.10.15: Sicily ‘hotspot’ to be prison-like centre http://www.euractiv.com/sections/justice-home-affairs/sicily-hotspot-be-prison-centre-318180

European Commission: DG Communication: RAPID: SPEECH/15/5816, 09.10.15: Remarks of Commissioner Avramopoulos at the Press Conference in Rome to mark the first flight under the EU Relocation Scheme http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_SPEECH-15-5816_en.htm

BBC News, 09.10.15: First refugees flown to Sweden under EU resettlement plan http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-34483681

The Local.se, 09.10.15: Relocated refugees set for northern Sweden http://www.thelocal.se/20151009/relocated-refugees-set-for-stersund-in-sweden

The Wall Street Journal, 09.10.15: Italy Flies 19 Eritrean Migrants to Resettle in Sweden http://www.wsj.com/articles/italy-flies-19-eritrean-migrants-to-resettle-in-sweden-1444385837

Deutsche Welle, 09.10.15: Eritrean refugees to resettle in Sweden under new EU plan http://dw.com/p/1GlSh

Deutsche Welle, 09.10.15: Eritreans arrive in Sweden for EU relocation program http://dw.com/p/1Glre

UNHCR: News Stories, 09.10.15: First group of asylum seekers relocated from Italy to Sweden http://www.unhcr.org/5617cbaf6.html

El Pais, 09.11.15: Spain welcomes first refugees from its European quota http://elpais.com/elpais/2015/11/09/inenglish/1447063679_825155.html

The Local.es, 10.11.15: First refugees arrive in Spain under 'desperately slow' relocation plan http://www.thelocal.es/20151110/first-refugees-arrive-in-spain-under-eu-relocation-scheme

ESO: Background information: Commissioner Avramopoulos and Minister Asselborn in Athens: First Relocation Flight from Greece, November 2015 http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-commissioner-avramopoulos-and-minister-asselborn-in-athens-first-relocation-flight-from-greece/

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