Relocation: Commission launches infringement procedures against the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland

Author (Corporate)
Series Title
Series Details IP/17/1607 (14.06.17)
Publication Date 14/06/2017
Content Type

Background:

The Council Decisions on relocation require member states to pledge available places for relocation every three months to ensure a swift and orderly relocation procedure. Hungary did not take any action since the relocation scheme started, while Poland did not relocate anyone and not pledged since December 2015. The Czech Republic did not relocate anyone since August 2016 and did not made any new pledge for over a year.

The Commission argued that, despite repeated calls for actions, the three countries remained in breach of their legal obligations and showed disregard for their commitments to Greece, Italy and other member states. This situation was highlighted on the 12th report and 13th report on the relocation schemes.

The temporary emergency relocation scheme was established in two Council Decisions, adopted on 14 September and 22 September 2015.The European Commission launched on 14 June 2017 infringement procedures against the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for non-compliance with their obligations under the 2015 Council Decisions on relocation.

A letter of formal notice is a first official request for information and the first step in an infringement procedure. Given that the Council Decisions on relocation were adopted in response to an emergency situation, the authorities of these member states were given one month to respond to the arguments put forward by the Commission, instead of the customary two-month deadline.

Source Link http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-17-1607_en.htm
Related Links
EUObserver, 13.06.17: Czech Republic, Hungary, Poland face EU sanctions on migrants https://euobserver.com/migration/138216
Politico, 13.06.17: Brussels prepares penalties over refugee inaction http://www.politico.eu/article/europe-refugees-brussels-prepares-penalties-over-inaction-czech-republic-hungary-and-poland/
EurActiv, 13.06.17: EU opens sanctions procedure against Hungary, Poland and Czech Republic over refugees http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-opens-sanctions-procedure-against-hungary-poland-and-czech-republic-over-refugees/
Politico, 12.06.17: Brussels takes on (most of the) Visegrad Group over refugees http://www.politico.eu/article/brussels-takes-on-most-of-the-visegrad-group-over-refugees/
France24, 13.06.17: EU begins legal action against Warsaw, Budapest, Prague over migrants http://www.france24.com/en/20170613-eu-begins-legal-action-against-warsaw-budapest-prague-over-migrants
Politico, 14.06.17: Poland vows to fight back against Commission penalty after ‘refugee inaction’: ministry http://www.politico.eu/article/poland-vows-to-fight-back-against-commission-penalty-after-refugee-inaction-ministry/
Euronews, 13.06.17: EU opens legal case against three countries over migration quotas http://www.euronews.com/2017/06/13/eu-opens-legal-case-against-three-countries-over-migration-quotas
Deutsche Welle, 13.06.17: EU launches legal case against 3 member states over refugee deal http://p.dw.com/p/2eeN4
Reuters, 13.06.17: EU opens legal case against Warsaw, Budapest and Prague over migration https://uk.reuters.com/article/uk-europe-migrants-eu-infringements-idUKKBN19313G
BBC News, 13.06.17: EU targets Poland, Hungary and Czechs for not taking refugees http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/world-europe-40259268
ESO: Information Guide: European Migration Challenges http://www.europeansources.info/record/information-guide-european-migration-challenges/
Euro|Topics: Debates, June 2017: Refugee quotas: Brussels takes legal action / Brussels determined to impose refugee quotas http://www.eurotopics.net/en/180737/refugee-quotas-brussels-takes-legal-action
Radio Poland, 14.06.17: EU ‘made wrong decision’ in refugee policy: Polish FM http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/311735,EU-%E2%80%98made-wrong-decision%E2%80%99-in-refugee-policy-Polish-FM
Hungary: Government: Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade: News, 13.06.17: We are not going to yield to European Commission’s blackmail http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-foreign-affairs-and-trade/news/we-are-not-going-to-yield-to-european-commission-s-blackmail
EUObserver, 14.06.17: Czechs pick 'useless' fight with EU on migration https://euobserver.com/migration/138227
Hungary: Government: Ministry of Justice: News, 14.06.17: Infringement procedure is exertion of pressure by European Commission http://www.kormany.hu/en/ministry-of-justice/news/infringement-procedure-is-exertion-of-pressure-by-european-commission
Czech Republic: Government: Speeches, 13.06.17: Comments by PM Bohuslav Sobotka on European Commission's objections https://www.vlada.cz/en/clenove-vlady/premier/speeches/comments-by-pm-bohuslav-sobotka-on-european-commissions-objections-157400/
EUObserver, 14.06.17: [Opinion]: Forcing refugees on Poland will do more harm than good https://euobserver.com/opinion/138217
Deutsche Welle, 14.06.17: Poland's government stokes fears about refugees http://p.dw.com/p/2eivj
EUObserver, 16.06.17: Commissioner and Czech minister argue over migration https://euobserver.com/political/138252
EurActiv, 20.06.17: Orbán: No chance for single EU migration policy http://www.euractiv.com/section/central-europe/news/orban-no-chance-for-single-eu-migration-policy/
EurActiv, 29.06.17: [Opinion] Sanctioning Poland over refugees would be wrong http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/opinion/sanctioning-poland-over-refugees-would-be-wrong/

Subject Categories
Countries / Regions