Brussels, 09/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - The migrant and refugee crisis is continuing to weigh heavily on the EU budget, the European Parliament reiterated in its adoption (425 votes in favour, 200 against and 78 abstentions) of the report by Jens Geier (S&D, Germany) on the general orientations for the preparation of the 2017 budget (see EUROPE 11494).
The European Parliament stresses the importance of enhanced financing for resettlement schemes, relocation procedures and return operations, notably under the Asylum, Migration and Immigration Fund, “in order to achieve an effective European asylum and migration policy while preventing and reducing irregular migration”. The MEPs stressed the need to create opportunities within the EU budget in order to develop “resettlement areas and safe zones on the African continent and in the Middle East”, in cooperation with the African Union, the Arab League and UNHCR. An amendment tabled by the S&D group called for these two paragraphs to be deleted, but was not supported in plenary.
Solidarity in the migrant crisis. The EP acknowledges that although considerable budgetary resources have been made available in 2015 and 2016 to tackle the migration and refugee crisis, no solution has as yet been found, either within the Union or in the countries of origin of the refugees. It argues that the budgetary resources are insufficient and “considerable additional financial resources are needed to tackle this crisis”. It stresses that long-term solutions must be found, not only in the annual budgetary procedure, but also as part of the mid-term review of the multi-annual financial framework. In its adoption of an amendment tabled by the S&D group, the MEPs stress that “solidarity is one of the underlying principles of the EU budget”. They express concern at the fact that in the refugee crisis, “solidarity has been manifested to unequal extents in the different member states” and urges the Commission to present a proposal “on how the EU budget could incentivise the member states to adopt a more balanced approach in terms of solidarity”.
Adopting part of an amendment tabled by the GUE/NGL group, the EP expresses its grave concern at the lack of adequate protection for unaccompanied minors during the whole of their quest for asylum and calls for in-depth study to be carried out into the disappearance of 10,000 children reported by Europol.
Mid-term review. The EP expresses its strong doubts as to whether the current crises (the migration crisis and the agricultural crisis) can be funded within the limits of the current multi-annual financial framework 2014-2020. It stresses that the revision of the multi-annual financial framework in 2016 is “an opportunity to adapt its means and to extend flexibility within it”.
Finally, the EP confirms its support for the international ITER research and engineering programme, and stresses its commitment to securing appropriate financing for it. However, it is concerned that further delays and additional costs may arise regarding this programme, as well as at the related potential repercussions for the Union budget. (Original version in French by Lionel Changeur)