On 16 March 2016 the European Commission published the first report on the application of the temporary emergency relocation schemes for refugees and the European resettlement scheme.

The temporary emergency relocation scheme was established by two Council Decisions in September 2015 in which Member States committed to relocate 160,000 people from Italy and Greece (and if relevant from other Member States) by September 2017.

The number of 937 asylum seekers transferred from Greece and Italy since 15 March indicate an unsatisfactory transfer rate, although the first signs of a positive trend are visible now - shows the European Commission press release. The main factor slowing down the transfer of refugees was the lack of political will among member states.

Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship Dimitris Avramopoulos said: "EU Member States have made a legal commitment to relocate 160,000 people in clear need of international protection – a commitment they have reaffirmed on several occasions. With the humanitarian situation in Greece getting more acute every day, Member States urgently need to deliver on their commitments and prevent a further deterioration of the situation for refugees in Greece. We need to see a substantial increase in relocations in the coming days and weeks. Member States also need to provide alternative safe and legal routes to Europe for people in need of international protection and to show solidarity with third countries affected by the refugee crisis through a significant increase in EU resettlement efforts."

The Commission made a number of specific recommendations to the Member States of relocation, asking them to increase their pledges and shorten the time for processing applications. The Commission also requested Member States to limit additional security checks to justified cases, to supply pre-departure information packages and to respond as soon as possible to the European Asylum Support Office's calls for experts. Member States should only indicate selection preferences in order to better match these preferences to achieve better integration, and not as grounds for rejecting relocation applications.

Greece and Italy are also invited to enhance their efforts to ensure a rapid and efficient functioning of the scheme, particularly with respect to systematic security checks and the quality of information sent to the member States of relocation. The two countries should also improve their coordination capacity, extend their reception capacity, avoid the risks of candidates eluding formalities and adequately adapt and improve the procedures for relocation of unaccompanied minors.

Source: European Commission


Additional information:

Commission's Communication to the Council and the European Parliament: First report on relocation and settlement
Annex 1: Relocations from Greece
Annex 2: Relocations from Italy
Annex 3: Greece - State of Play Report
Annex 4: Italy - State of Play Report
Annex 5: Circuit for relocations from Greece
Annex 6: Resettlement State of Play as of 15 March 2016, under 20 July 2015 Conclusions
Annex 7: Plans for Resettlement after 15 March 2016
INFORMATION SHEET - Transfer and relocation
Council Decision on the transfer of 40,000 persons from Italy and Greece
Council Decision on the transfer of 120,000 persons from Italy and Greece
Commission Recommendation for a voluntary humanitarian admission scheme for Syrian refugees in Turkey
Conclusions of the Council on resettling 20,000 persons in clear need of international protection
European agenda on migration