Sixth report on relocation and resettlement

The Sixth Report on Relocation and Resettlement provides an updated state of play since the last report of 13 July 2016 and assesses the actions undertaken by all relevant stakeholders from 12 July 2016 until 27 September (the reporting period) to deliver on the recommendations made to accelerate the implementation of the relocation and resettlement schemes.

In September 2015, in view of the continued and exceptional flows of migrants in the EU, the Council adopted two legally binding Decisions establishing a temporary and exceptional relocation mechanism for 106,000 people from Greece and Italy, the Member States under the most extreme pressure. These Decisions were an expression of the principle of solidarity that lies at the heart of the European project. At the same time, with a view to addressing the global migratory crisis comprehensively and to showing solidarity with third countries equally affected, on 20 July 2015, Member States, together with Dublin Associated States, agreed to resettle 22,504 people in need of international protection from the Middle East, Horn of Africa and Northern Africa.

Due to its novelty and the complex nature of the underlying exercise, the relocation mechanism has taken time to reach cruising speed. Italy, Greece and the Member States of relocation had to establish new structures and procedures, build capacity and mutual trust and improve reception conditions to accommodate the significant number of asylum seekers who could benefit from relocation. Now, one year after the entry into force of the second Council Decision, the groundwork needed for making relocation work has been laid and important progress achieved in a number of areas.

Hotspots are in place and the hotspots approach is being implemented also beyond the areas nominally designated as hotspots; Member States, EU agencies and international organisations are working hand in hand with Italy and Greece to manage the EU borders and migration flows; and the procedures required to facilitate relocation are in place in both Greece and Italy. These efforts have resulted in the creation of truly European operational teams, in the achievement of close to 100% fingerprinting, strengthened security, and a significant increase in the number of applicants who can be relocated.

These efforts have also resulted in a significant acceleration of relocation particularly in the latest months in Greece. During the reporting period, an important number of Member States have stepped up their engagement with the relocation scheme, resulting in a substantial increase in the number of people relocated. Since the last reporting period, 2,595 people were relocated, with 1,202 since the beginning of September, compared to 776 in the previous reporting period. Additional Member States have indicated their readiness to also engage more. Half-way through the implementation of the Council Decisions 5,651 people have been relocated so far. With the continuous arrival of migrants in Italy and the still challenging humanitarian situation in Greece, relocation remains crucial to alleviate the pressure in these countries.

As regards resettlement, implementation is on track. So far, 10,695 people have been resettled of the agreed 22,504 under the July 2015 scheme, including 2,426 since the previous report, mainly from Turkey, Jordan and Lebanon. With the agreed actions set out in the EU-Turkey Statement only starting to be applied from 4 April 2016, 1,614 persons have been resettled from Turkey to the EU under the 1:1 mechanism, including 812 since the previous report.

ESO: Background information: Delivering on migration and border management: Commission reports on progress made under the European Agenda on Migration, September 2016 http://www.europeansources.info/record/delivering-on-migration-and-border-management-commission-reports-on-progress-made-under-the-european-agenda-on-migration/

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