Commission sends reasoned opinions to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for non-compliance on relocation

Background and further information:

A reasoned opinion is the second step in an infringement procedure and consists of a formal request to comply with EU law, calling on the member states to inform the European Commission of the measures taken to comply within a specific period.

In view of the emergency of the specific situation and the repeated calls to the Member States involved, the Commission decided to establish that the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland would have one month to respond to the reasoned opinion, instead of the customary two-month deadline.

The infringement procedure was launched in June 2017. If no reply was received or if the reply was again not satisfactory, the Commission could decide to move forward in the infrigement procedure and refer the case to the Court of Justice of the European Union.

The temporary emergency relocation scheme was established in two Council Decisions, adopted on 14 September and 22 September 2015.

In parallel to the reasoned opinions, the Commission also released the 14th progress report on the relocation and resettlement schemes. The CJEU's Advocate General released its Opinion on the action brought by Hungary and Slovakia on the relocation mechanism.

The European Commission decided on 27 July 2017 to move to the next stage in the infringement procedures against the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for non-compliance with their legal obligations on relocation of migrants. Reasoned opinions were sent to the member states as a result of their failure to provide satisfactory replies or to change their position on the matter.

• Primary Source

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

Radio Poland, 26.07.17: Brussels steps up case against Poland over migrants http://www.thenews.pl/1/10/Artykul/318064,Brussels-steps-up-case-against-Poland-over-migrants

EUObserver, 26.07.17: Czechs, Hungarians, and Poles have one month to start taking migrants https://euobserver.com/migration/138619

EurActiv, 26.07.17: EU tightens grip on disobedient states over migration https://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/eu-tightens-grip-on-disobedient-states-over-migration/

France24, 26.07.17: Brussels piles pressure on EU eastern bloc countries over migrants http://www.france24.com/en/20170726-brussels-piles-pressure-eu-eastern-bloc-countries-migrants-poland-hungary-slovakia-czech

EurActiv, 03.09.17: Polish PM rejects EU ‘blackmail’ on migrant quotas http://www.euractiv.com/section/justice-home-affairs/news/polish-pm-rejects-eu-blackmail-on-migrant-quotas/

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