Twelfth report on relocation and resettlement

The twelfth report on relocation and resettlement provides an updated state of play on the implementation of the relocation and resettlement schemes since the eleventh report of 12 April 2017, and outlines the gaps and outstanding actions that still need to be taken to deliver on the commitments under both schemes. Throughout its implementation, one element has remained critical for the success of the scheme: the mutual cooperation and trust between the Member States of relocation and the beneficiary Member States in complying with and implementing the Council Decisions on relocation.

As the relocation procedure became operational, and as the majority of Member States began to pledge on a regular basis, the monthly transfers increased significantly. Also the two beneficiary Member States, Italy and Greece, made further efforts to improve mutual cooperation and trust in order to speed up relocations. As a result, in the first four months of 2017 Member States have relocated almost the same number as in the whole of 2016. In total, more than 18,000 people have been relocated so far, proving that relocation works if there is the will to abide by what was agreed together in a spirit of sincere cooperation.

Relocation as provided in the Council Decisions is a legal obligation. It is also a joint effort that requires all Member States to relocate both from Italy and Greece. While many Member States have increased their efforts, there are regrettably still a number of Member States that have not relocated a single person in breach of their legal obligations and in disregard of their commitments to Italy, Greece and the other Member States, which respect their commitments by relocating.

While many of the recommendations from the eleventh report still stand (due to the two-month cycle nature of relocation), this twelfth report focuses mainly on those Member States that have systematically declined to implement the Council Decisions and have failed to deliver in line with their commitments.

As regards resettlement, the implementation of the July 2015 Conclusions to resettle 22,504 people is well on track with over two thirds of the agreed number already resettled. This represents significant progress compared to the limited numbers Member States used to resettle in 2014 and 2015 via national or multilateral schemes and demonstrates the added value of strengthened EU-level cooperation in this area.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background information: 12th report on emergency relocation and resettlement scheme http://www.europeansources.info/record/12th-report-on-emergency-relocation-and-resettlement-scheme-relocation-and-resettlement-commission-calls-on-all-member-states-to-deliver-and-meet-obligations/

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