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OPINION (COM(2016)0468 – C80325/2016 – 2016/0225(COD))

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

AFET-AD-601073

Committee on Foreign Affairs · Rapporteur: Laima Liucija Andrikienė

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The Committee on Foreign Affairs gives its opinion on the proposed regulation establishing a Union Resettlement Framework. It proposes amendments to make the framework permanent and binding, based on humanitarian needs and UNHCR global resettlement needs. The amendments add references to UNHCR, IOM and civil society organisations throughout the procedures, and require cooperation with them in selection, assessment and implementation. They delete grounds for excluding resettlement based on a third country's cooperation with the Union on migration and asylum, and remove the exclusion of persons who irregularly stayed or entered Member States in the five years prior. They require the annual Union resettlement plan to align with UNHCR Projected Global Resettlement Needs, set benchmarks to monitor implementation, and add reporting to UNHCR.

Committee position. The Committee on Foreign Affairs proposes amendments to the Commission's proposal for a Union Resettlement Framework. It wants a permanent binding framework based on humanitarian and UNHCR global needs, stronger roles for UNHCR, IOM and civil society, and deletion of exclusion grounds linked to third-country cooperation on migration.

Key points

  1. The Committee on Foreign Affairs calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs to take into account its amendments to the proposed Union Resettlement Framework regulation.
  2. A new recital notes that Commission reports have documented very slow progress on relocation and resettlement, and says member states should continue delivering on their resettlement commitments.
  3. The framework should be based on humanitarian needs, contribute to meeting global resettlement needs and alleviate protracted refugee situations.
  4. The framework should increase and complement national resettlement practices, help reduce the risk of a poorly managed irregular inflow, and enhance cooperation with third countries.
  5. Resettlement regions should fit in a tailored long-standing engagement with third countries, and partner countries should be prioritised, taking into account global resettlement and protection needs.
  6. Common procedures should build on member states' and UNHCR standards, in particular the Annual Tripartite Consultations on Resettlement, aiming to scale up collective efforts to match global needs.
  7. The resettlement procedure should ensure expedited access to the Union for persons in need of international protection while allowing sufficient time for full examination of each case.
  8. Humanitarian admission should be considered as a complement to Union resettlement programmes.
  9. The Council should adopt the annual Union resettlement plan in line with UNHCR Projected Global Resettlement Needs, including benchmarks to monitor member states' implementation.
  10. The Commission's proposal on the total number of persons to be resettled should align with the ATCR and aim to gradually scale up member states' collective efforts to match global needs.
  11. UNHCR should continue to play a key role, and other international organisations, non-governmental organisations and Union delegations should assist member states in implementing the framework.
  12. The European Union Agency for Asylum should assist member states and cooperate with related third countries, including by providing practical and technical assistance and operational support.

Who is affected

  • Member states, which would implement the resettlement framework and contribute to the annual plan.
  • Third-country nationals and stateless persons in need of international protection, who would be selected, admitted and transferred.
  • UNHCR, IOM and civil society organisations, which would be given expanded roles in assessment and implementation.
  • Third countries hosting displaced persons, which would receive solidarity and redistributive mechanisms.

Figures and deadlines

  • 31 December 2018: deadline for the Commission's first report on the application of the regulation.
  • two months: period within which the Council should aim to adopt the proposal on the total number of persons to be resettled.
  • five years: period prior to resettlement during which irregular stay or entry would no longer exclude a person (deleted).
  • 18 March 2016: date of the EU-Turkey Statement, removed from the exclusion grounds.