Sittings · Document
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 Budgets · Rapporteur: Gérard Deprez
Committee on Budgets
2016/0225(COD)
25.4.2017
OPINION
PA_Legam
SHORT JUSTIFICATION
The rapporteur is of the opinion that the EU is in urgent need of an integrated, sustainable migration policy, based on solidarity and fair burden-sharing between all Member States. He believes that the creation of legal ways to seek refuge in Europe could avoid tragic deaths in the Mediterranean Sea and break down the business model of migrant smugglers.
The rapporteur supports linking the proposed recast of the ‘Dublin regulation’ to the present proposal, so that the number of resettled persons is added to the number of applications for international protection for the purpose of calculating the corrective allocation mechanism. The rapporteur is also in favour of establishing a link with the recast Eurodac regulation so that data on resettled persons will be stored in the Eurodac system.
In terms of its budgetary implications, despite the absence of a well-defined quota of persons to be resettled in the proposal, the rapporteur wishes that these resettlement plans should be ambitious and that the means necessary for their implementation be made available.
The rapporteur welcomes the proposal to allocate EUR 10,000 from the Union budget to Member States for each resettled person, to be paid from AMIF, on the basis of Union resettlement plans adopted on an annual basis by the Council. The rapporteur understands the removal of co-financing from the EU budget for resettlement under national resettlement programs with a view to ensure the necessary funding of these European resettlement programs.
Finally, the rapporteur wishes to emphasize that both arms of the Budgetary Authority must have full information on the financial implications of the next annual resettlement plan at the time of the presentation of the proposal on the draft Union annual budget for the following year.
AMENDMENTS
The Committee on Budgets calls on the Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs, as the committee responsible, to take into account the following amendments:
Amendment 1
Proposal for a regulation
Recital -1 (new)
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(-1) The European Project has always been based on the promotion of the values of democracy, the rule of law and human rights.
Amendment 2
Proposal for a regulation
Recital -1 a (new)
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(-1a) Migration management is a shared responsibility.
Amendment 3
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 12
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(12) The common standard procedures should build on the existing resettlement experience and standards of the Member States, in particular the Standard Operating Procedures guiding the implementation of the resettlement scheme with Turkey set out in the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016. The Union Resettlement Framework should allow the use of two types of standard resettlement procedures.
(12) The common standard procedures should build on the existing resettlement experience and standards of the UNHCR, the Member States, and in particular the Standard Operating Procedures guiding the implementation of the resettlement scheme with Turkey set out in the EU-Turkey Statement of 18 March 2016. The Union Resettlement Framework should allow the use of two types of standard resettlement procedures.
Justification
The existing international arrangements that rely on UNHCR should be taken into account.
Amendment 4
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 13
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(13) Both types of procedure consist of the following stages: identification, registration, assessment and decision.
(13) Both types of procedure consist of the following stages: identification, registration, assessment and decision, and should be implemented in close cooperation with the UNHCR.
Justification
UNHCR has a lot of expertise and experience in the field of resettlement that should be utilized as much as possible.
Amendment 5
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 17
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(17) Any personal data collected for the purpose of the resettlement procedure should be stored for a maximum period of five years from the date of resettlement. Given that third-country nationals or stateless persons who have already been resettled by one Member State or who during the last five years refused to resettle to a Member State should be excluded from resettlement to another Member State, that period should be considered a necessary period for the storage of personal details, including fingerprints and facial images.
(17) Any personal data collected for the purpose of the resettlement procedure should be stored for a maximum period of five years from the date of resettlement. Given that third-country nationals or stateless persons who have already been resettled by one Member State or who during the last five years refused to resettle to a Member State should be ineligible for resettlement to another Member State, that period should be considered a necessary period for the storage of personal details, including fingerprints and facial images.
Justification
Exclusion in the context of international refugee protection refers to individuals undeserving of international protection. Ineligibility would be a better term.
Amendment 6
Proposal for a regulation
Recital 18
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(18) The choice of the resettlement procedure should be made for each targeted Union resettlement scheme. An expedited procedure might be warranted on humanitarian grounds or in case of urgent legal or physical protection needs.
(18) The choice of the resettlement procedure should be made for each targeted Union resettlement scheme in close cooperation with the UNHCR. An expedited procedure might be warranted on humanitarian grounds or in case of urgent legal or physical protection needs.
Justification
UNHCR has a lot of expertise and experience in the field of resettlement that should be utilized as much as possible.
Amendment 7
Proposal for a regulation
Article 1 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
This Regulation establishes a Union Resettlement Framework for the admission of third-country nationals and stateless persons to the territory of the Member States with a view to granting them international protection.
This Regulation establishes a Union Resettlement Framework for the admission of third-country nationals and stateless persons to the territory of the Member States that choose to participate in the resettlement scheme with a view to granting them international protection.
Justification
Participation to the Framework should be voluntary as the purpose of resettlement is to provide protection and a durable solution. The Member States know best, how many persons they can truly provide protection to and integrate into their societies. The lump sum of 10 000 euros from AMIF only covers the initial costs of resettlement.
Amendment 8
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 in accordance with Article 25 of Regulation (EU) 2017/... of the European Parliament and of the Council1a .
_________________
1a Regulation (EU) 2017/… of the European Parliament and the Council on standards for the qualification of third-country nationals or stateless persons as beneficiaries of international protection, for a uniform status for refugees or for persons eligible for subsidiary protection and for the content of the protection granted and amending Council Directive 2003/109/EC of 25 November 2003 concerning the status of third-country nationals who are long-term residents (OJ ...).
Justification
The proposed Qualification Directive clarifies the rights of family members of a beneficiary of international protection.
Amendment 9
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – title
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
Grounds for exclusion
Ineligibility
Justification
Exclusion in the context of international refugee protection refers to individuals undeserving of international protection. Ineligibility would be a better term.
Amendment 10
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
1. The following third-country nationals or stateless persons shall be excluded from targeted Union resettlement schemes established in accordance with Article 8:
1. The following third-country nationals or stateless persons shall be ineligible for targeted Union resettlement schemes established in accordance with Article 8:
Justification
Exclusion in the context of international refugee protection refers to individuals undeserving of international protection. Ineligibility would be a better term.
Amendment 11
Proposal for a regulation
Article 6 – paragraph 1 – point a – introductory part
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(a) persons for whom there are reasonable grounds for considering that:
(a) persons for whom there are serious reasons for considering that:
Justification
1951 Geneva Convention uses the expression "serious reasons for considering".
Amendment 12
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
1. On the basis of a proposal from the Commission, the Council shall adopt an annual Union resettlement plan in the year preceding that in which it is to be implemented.
1. On the basis of a proposal from the Commission, the Council shall adopt an annual Union resettlement plan in the year preceding that in which it is to be implemented that shall apply to those Member States that choose to participate in the resettlement for the following year.
Justification
Participation to the Framework should be voluntary.
Amendment 13
Proposal for a regulation
Article 7 – paragraph 2 – point b
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
(b) details about the participation of the Member States in the annual Union resettlement plan and their contributions to the total number of persons to be resettled;
(b) details about the Member States that choose to participate in the annual Union resettlement plan and their voluntary contributions to the total number of persons to be resettled;
Justification
Participation to the Framework should be voluntary. Increasing resettlement of refugees in Europe and enhancing cooperation regarding resettlement is important, but Member States shouldn't be obliged to resettle a certain share of the persons to be resettled to the EU.
Amendment 14
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 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 Member States that choose to participate in the targeted Union resettlement scheme;
Justification
Participation to the Framework should be voluntary. The Member States should be able to decide, how many persons they resettle, instead of an obligation to resettle a certain share of the persons to be resettled to the EU.
Amendment 15
Proposal for a regulation
Article 17 – paragraph 1 – point 3
Regulation EU No 516/2014
Article 17 – paragraph 1
Text proposed by the Commission
Amendment
1. In addition to their allocation calculated in accordance with point (a) of Article 15(1), Member States shall receive for each resettled person in accordance with a targeted Union resettlement scheme a lump sum of EUR 10,000.
1. In addition to their allocation calculated in accordance with point (a) of Article 15(1), Member States shall receive for each resettled person in accordance with a targeted Union resettlement scheme a lump sum of EUR 10,000. All financial resources allocated are addressed to resettlement purposes and not other actions financed by Regulation (EU) No 516/2014, such as funding of Immigration Detention Centres.
PROCEDURE – COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
Title
Union Resettlement Framework
References
COM(2016)0468 – C8-0325/2016 – 2016/0225(COD)
Committee responsible
Date announced in plenary
LIBE
12.9.2016
Opinion by
Date announced in plenary
BUDG
12.9.2016
Rapporteur
Date appointed
Gérard Deprez
31.8.2016
Date adopted
24.4.2017
Result of final vote
+:
–:
0:
25
4
1
Members present for the final vote
Lefteris Christoforou, Gérard Deprez, José Manuel Fernandes, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Ingeborg Gräßle, Bernd Kölmel, Zbigniew Kuźmiuk, Clare Moody, Siegfried Mureşan, Jan Olbrycht, Paul Rübig, Petri Sarvamaa, Jordi Solé, Patricija Šulin, Monika Vana, Daniele Viotti, Tiemo Wölken, Marco Zanni, Stanisław Żółtek
Substitutes present for the final vote
Nicola Caputo, Ivana Maletić, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Nils Torvalds, Marco Valli, Derek Vaughan, Rainer Wieland, Tomáš Zdechovský
Substitutes under Rule 200(2) present for the final vote
Inés Ayala Sender, Karin Kadenbach, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso
FINAL VOTE BY ROLL CALL IN COMMITTEE ASKED FOR OPINION
25
+
ALDE
Gérard Deprez, Nils Torvalds
ECR
Zbigniew Kuźmiuk
EFDD
Marco Valli
PPE
Lefteris Christoforou, José Manuel Fernandes, Ingeborg Gräßle, Ivana Maletić, Siegfried Mureşan, Jan Olbrycht, Paul Rübig, Petri Sarvamaa, Patricija Šulin, Ramón Luis Valcárcel Siso, Rainer Wieland, Tomáš Zdechovský
S&D
Inés Ayala Sender, Nicola Caputo, Eider Gardiazabal Rubial, Karin Kadenbach, Clare Moody, Pier Antonio Panzeri, Derek Vaughan, Daniele Viotti, Tiemo Wölken
4
-
ECR
Bernd Kölmel
ENF
Marco Zanni, Stanisław Żółtek
Verts/ALE
Monika Vana
1
0
Verts/ALE
Jordi Solé
Key to symbols:
+ : in favour
- : against
0 : abstention