Brussels, 30/03/2012 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 29 March, the European Parliament (EP) approved the new European programme for the resettlement of refuges from third countries. Under this programme European countries will receive more support from the EU to take in people fleeing wars, famine or persecution. The programme, which member states may apply on a voluntary basis, is to resettle in the EU people who have been granted refugee status in third countries (for example, Libyan refugees in Tunisia in 2011). For 2013, the list of those whose resettlement will be funded by the European Refugee Fund has been extended to include vulnerable groups, such as women at risk and unaccompanied minors, people in need of extensive medical attention and refugees who, for legal or physical reasons, have to be resettled as a matter of urgency, a press release says. The programme will set a series of annual geographical priorities. In 2013, these will be: Iraqi refugees in Turkey, Syria, Lebanon and Jordan; Afghan refugees in Turkey, Pakistan and Iran; Congolese refugees in Burundi, Malawi, Rwanda and Zambia, Somali refugees in Ethiopia, Burmese refugees in Bangladesh, Malaysia and Thailand and Eritrean refugees in Eastern Sudan.
Under the terms of the new programme, EU financial support for resettling refugees will be increased. Member states resettling refugees for the first time will get €6,000 per person for the first year, €5,000 per person for the second year and €4,000 in subsequent years, as compared with the €4,000 per person resettled they currently receive. (SP/transl.rt)