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

Committee on Foreign Affairs

2016/0225(COD)

7.3.2017

DRAFT OPINION

PA_Legam

Amendment 1

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 9

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(9) Such a framework is a necessary part of a well-managed migration policy to reduce divergences among national resettlement practices and procedures, provide for the legal and safe arrival to the territory of the Member States of third-country nationals and stateless persons in need of international protection, help reduce the risk of a large-scale irregular inflow of third-country nationals and stateless persons to the territory of the Member States and thereby reducing the pressure of spontaneous arrivals on the Member States' asylum systems, be an expression of solidarity with countries in regions to which or within which a large number of persons in need of international protection has been displaced by helping to alleviate the pressure on those countries, help achieve Union's foreign policy objectives by increasing the Union's leverage vis-à-vis third countries, and effectively contribute to global resettlement initiatives through speaking with one voice in international fora and with third countries.

(9) Such a framework is a necessary part of a well-managed migration policy to reduce divergences among national resettlement practices and procedures, provide for the legal and safe arrival to the territory of the Member States of third-country nationals and stateless persons in need of international protection, help reduce the risk of irregular inflow of third-country nationals and stateless persons to the territory of the Member States and thereby reducing the pressure of spontaneous arrivals on the Member States' asylum systems, be an expression of solidarity with countries in regions to which or within which a large number of persons in need of international protection has been displaced by helping to alleviate the pressure on those countries, help achieve Union's foreign policy objectives by increasing the Union's leverage vis-à-vis third countries, and effectively contribute to global resettlement initiatives through speaking with one voice in international fora and with third countries.

Or. en

Amendment 2

Proposal for a regulation

Recital 10

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(10) In order to help reduce the risk of a large-scale irregular inflow of third-country nationals and stateless persons to the territory of the Member States, show solidarity with countries in regions to which or within which a large number of persons in need of international protection has been displaced by helping to alleviate the pressure on those countries, and help achieve the Union's foreign policy objectives, the regions or third countries from which resettlement is to occur should fit in a tailored engagement with third countries to better manage migration as foreseen in the Commission's Communication of 7 June 2016 on Establishing a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration32 .

(10) In order to help reduce the risk of irregular inflow of third-country nationals and stateless persons to the territory of the Member States, show solidarity with countries in regions to which or within which a large number of persons in need of international protection has been displaced by helping to alleviate the pressure on those countries, and help achieve the Union's foreign policy objectives, the regions or third countries from which resettlement is to occur should fit in a tailored engagement with third countries to better manage migration as foreseen in the Commission's Communication of 7 June 2016 on Establishing a new Partnership Framework with third countries under the European Agenda on Migration32 .

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32 COM(2016) 377 final.

32 COM(2016) 377 final.

Or. en

Amendment 3

Proposal for a regulation

Article 3 – paragraph 3 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) contribute to the reduction of the risk of a large-scale irregular inflow of third-country nationals and stateless persons in need of international protection to the territory of the Member States;

(b) contribute to the reduction of the risk of irregular inflow of third-country nationals and stateless persons in need of international protection to the territory of the Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 4

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) the number of persons in need of international protection displaced to or within a third country and any onward movement of those persons to the territory of the Member States;

(a) the number of persons in need of international protection displaced to or within a third country, its impact on the regional stability of that third country, and any onward movement of those persons to the territory of the Member States;

Or. en

Amendment 5

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) complementarity with financial and technical assistance provided to third countries to which or within which persons in need of international protection have been displaced;

(b) complementarity with financial and technical assistance, especially aimed at increasing the reception capability and the protection of persons in need of international protection and at developing an effective asylum system to be provided to third countries to which or within which persons in need of international protection have been displaced;

Or. en

Amendment 6

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point c

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(c) the Union's overall relations with the third country or countries from which resettlement occurs, and with third countries in general;

(c) the respect for international law by the third country, or countries from which resettlement occurs, and the Union's overall relations with the third country or countries, and with third countries in general;

Or. en

Amendment 7

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point d

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(d) a third country's effective cooperation with the Union in the area of migration and asylum, including:

deleted

(i) reducing the number of third-country nationals and stateless persons irregularly crossing the border into the territory of the Member States coming from that third country;

(ii) creating the conditions for the use of the first country of asylum and safe third country concepts for the return of asylum applicants who have irregularly crossed the border into the territory of the Member States coming from or having a connection with the third country concerned;

(iii) increasing the capacity for the reception and protection of persons in need of international protection staying in that country, including through the development of an effective asylum system; or

(iv) increasing the rate of readmission of third-country nationals and stateless persons irregularly staying in the territory of the Member States such as through the conclusion and effective implementation of readmission agreements;

Or. en

Amendment 8

Proposal for a regulation

Article 4 – paragraph 1 – point e

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(e) the scale and content of commitments to resettlement undertaken by third countries.

(e) the scale and content of commitments to resettlement undertaken by other third countries.

Or. en

Amendment 9

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point i – introductory part

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

i) vulnerable persons:

i) vulnerable persons, in particular:

Or. en

Amendment 10

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii – indent 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

- the minor children of couples referred to in the first indent or of third-country nationals or stateless persons to be resettled, on the condition that they are unmarried, regardless of whether they were born in or out of wedlock or adopted as defined under national law;

- the minor children of couples referred to in the first indent or of third-country nationals or stateless persons to be resettled, regardless of whether they were born in or out of wedlock or adopted as defined under national law;

Or. en

Amendment 11

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 1 – point b – point ii – indent 3

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

- the father, mother or another adult responsible for the unmarried minor to be resettled, whether by law or by the practice of the Member State where the adult is present;

- the father, mother or another adult responsible for the minor to be resettled, whether by law or by the practice of the Member State where the adult is present;

Or. en

Amendment 12

Proposal for a regulation

Article 5 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

Member States shall ensure that family unity can be maintained between persons referred to in point (b)(ii).

Member States shall ensure that family unity can be maintained.

Or. en

Amendment 13

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point d

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(d) persons who have irregularly stayed, irregularly entered, or attempted to irregularly enter the territory of the Member States during the five years prior to resettlement;

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 14

Proposal for a regulation

Article 6 – paragraph 2

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

2. Third-country nationals or stateless persons may be excluded from targeted Union resettlement schemes established in accordance with Article 8, where one of the grounds for exclusion referred to in points (a) or (b) of paragraph 1 applies prima facie.

deleted

Or. en

Amendment 15

Proposal for a regulation

Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point a

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(a) the maximum total number of persons to be resettled;

(a) the target number of persons to be resettled;

Or. en

Amendment 16

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point b

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(b) the precise number of persons to be resettled from the maximum total number as set out in the annual Union resettlement plan provided for in point (a) of Article 7(2) and details about the participation of the Member States in the targeted Union resettlement scheme;

(b) the precise number of persons to be resettled from the target number as set out in the annual Union resettlement plan provided for in point (a) of Article 7(2) and details about the participation of the Member States in the targeted Union resettlement scheme;

Or. en

Amendment 17

Proposal for a regulation

Article 8 – paragraph 2 – point d

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

(d) where necessary, local coordination and practical cooperation arrangements among Member States, supported by the [European Union Agency for Asylum] in accordance with Article 12(3), and with third countries, and UNHCR or other partners;

(d) where necessary, local coordination and practical cooperation arrangements among Member States, supported by the [European Union Agency for Asylum] in accordance with Article 12(3) and the Union Delegations, and with third countries, and UNHCR or other partners;

Or. en

Amendment 18

Proposal for a regulation

Article 13 – paragraph 1

Text proposed by the Commission

Amendment

1. A High-Level Resettlement Committee shall be established, composed of representatives of the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Member States. [The European Union Agency for Asylum,] UNHCR, and IOM may be invited. Representatives of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland shall be invited to attend the meetings of the High-Level Resettlement Committee where they have indicated their intention to be associated with the implementation of the annual Union resettlement plan.

1. A High-Level Resettlement Committee shall be established, composed of representatives of the European Parliament, the Council, the Commission, the High Representative of the Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy, and the Member States. [The European Union Agency for Asylum,] UNHCR, and IOM shall be invited. Representatives of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland shall be invited to attend the meetings of the High-Level Resettlement Committee where they have indicated their intention to be associated with the implementation of the annual Union resettlement plan.

Or. en