On the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing a Union Resettlement Framework and amending Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council
A-8-2017-0316 · A8-0316/2017
Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs · Rapporteur: Malin Björk
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Parliament's amended version of the Commission proposal for a regulation establishing a Union Resettlement Framework sets common procedures, eligibility criteria and a common protection status for resettling third-country nationals and stateless persons to member states.¶¶¶ It bases the framework on humanitarian needs and UNHCR structures, with a two-yearly Union resettlement plan and targeted schemes adopted by delegated acts, and a target of at least 20% of UNHCR's Annual Projected Global Resettlement Needs.¶¶¶ It adds an emergency procedure with an unallocated quota of around 10% of the target number, and requires member states to increase resettlement efforts and support reception and integration.¶¶¶ It amends Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 to fund resettlement and national humanitarian admission with lump sums of EUR 6 000 and EUR 10 000 per person.¶¶
Committee position. The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs proposes to amend the Commission proposal by basing the framework on humanitarian needs and UNHCR structures, raising resettlement numbers, adding an emergency procedure, and funding resettlement and national humanitarian admission.¶¶¶
Key points
- Resettlement is defined as selection, upon referral from UNHCR or member states, admission, transfer and protection of third-country nationals and stateless persons, granting international protection and a durable solution.¶¶
- The framework must guarantee legal and safe transfer and arrival of the most vulnerable persons, encourage all member states to gradually increase resettlement efforts and support reception and integration.¶¶
- Geographical priorities must be based on the annual UNHCR Projected Global Resettlement Needs report, and factors include protracted refugee situations and complementarity with financial and technical assistance.¶¶¶
- Eligibility covers persons with a well-founded fear of persecution on grounds including gender, sexual orientation, gender identity and disability, and persons at risk of serious harm.¶
- Grounds for ineligibility include serious grounds for serious non-political crimes or being a danger to public or national security or public health; Schengen alerts and irregular stay are removed as grounds.¶¶¶
- The Commission adopts delegated acts every two years to establish a Union resettlement plan with a target number of at least 20% of Annual Projected Global Resettlement Needs, member state contributions, geographical priorities and an emergency quota of around 10%.¶¶¶
- Targeted Union resettlement schemes are established by delegated acts; if voluntary participation does not reach 75% of the target, they set the number each member state shall resettle based on the Dublin Regulation reference key.¶¶
- Under the ordinary procedure, member states primarily rely on UNHCR identification and submission, perform security checks, assess eligibility, and decide within six months, extendable by three months.¶¶¶
- An emergency procedure applies to urgent security risks or severe medical conditions, with a fast-track procedure, a specific number of places, and a decision aspired within two weeks from submission.¶
- Resettled persons receive refugee or subsidiary protection status, travel arrangements, pre-departure orientation, and integration measures with the same access as other beneficiaries of international protection.¶¶¶
- A High-Level Resettlement Committee is established, including the European Parliament, Council, Commission, member states, EUAA, UNHCR, IOM and civil society, to recommend the plan's components.¶¶
- Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 is amended so member states receive every two years a lump sum of EUR 6 000 per resettled person or person admitted under a national humanitarian admission programme, increased to EUR 10 000 for resettlement under the framework.¶
Who is affected
- Third-country nationals and stateless persons in need of international protection, who may be selected for resettlement and granted protection and a durable solution.¶¶
- Member states, which must increase resettlement efforts, run procedures, perform security checks and provide reception and integration measures.¶¶¶
- UNHCR, which is primarily responsible for referring eligible persons for resettlement.¶
- The European Union Agency for Asylum, which supports member states, coordinates good practices and gathers data on resettlements.¶
- Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which are invited to attend High-Level Resettlement Committee meetings if associated with the plan.¶
Figures and deadlines
- At least 20% of the Annual Projected Global Resettlement Needs, the minimum target number of persons to be resettled.¶
- Around 10% of the target number, the unallocated emergency quota.¶
- 75% of the target number, the threshold of combined voluntary participation triggering allocation among member states.¶
- Six months from registration, the deadline for a resettlement decision, extendable by three months.¶
- Two weeks from submission, the aspired deadline for a decision in the emergency procedure.¶
- Five years from the date of resettlement, the maximum storage period for personal data.¶
- EUR 6 000 per resettled person or person admitted under a national humanitarian admission programme, increased to EUR 10 000 for resettlement under the framework.¶
- Four years, the period for which delegated acts are conferred on the Commission.¶
Legal basis: Article 294(2) and Article 78(2)(d) and (g) of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union.¶