Two days after European Commission’s publication of its still rather mixed results (see EUROPE 11789), the European Parliament launched an appeal on Thursday 18 May. This appeal was made in a resolution adopted by a large majority and calls for the member states to meet their obligations on asylum seeker relocations, particularly with regard to unaccompanied minors. The text was adopted with 398 votes in favour, 134 against, and 41 abstentions.
In this resolution, MEPs regret that despite having agreed “to move 160,000 refugees” from Greece and Italy at the end of 2015, EU member states have relocated just 18,770 people (11% of their total obligations). MEPs insist that the Commission considers infringement procedures against countries failing to respect their obligations, as it had already done so on Tuesday.
They are particularly critical of the countries that apply, “very restrictive and discriminatory preferences, such as granting relocation only to single mothers or excluding applicants from specific nationalities, such as Eritreans”. On Tuesday, the Commission also denounced these preferences and lack of flexibility.
In the resolution, Parliament criticises the fact that four states, “have only been relocating on an extremely limited basis and two member states (Hungary and Poland) are still not participating at all” in the system. The resolution suggests that EU countries will have to continue transferring eligible applicants after September when the system theoretically comes to an end. MEPs are also proposing to extend the relocation scheme until the new Dublin Regulation on asylum is adopted.
During a press conference on Wednesday 17 May in Strasbourg, Ska Keller, Parliament's rapporteur on the subject explained their approach. Although Parliament was able to be patient at the beginning, the states no longer have an excuse. The German MEP criticised the fact that, “at the beginning, it was normal, time is needed to put everything in place. Today, this excuse is no longer valid. It is clear that there is a lack of political will”.
The Socialist MEP, Cécile Kashetu (S&D), explained that “migrating is not a choice. That’s why solidarity is necessary. It is not right for certain member states to select refugees on the basis of gender, status or origin”. The MEP also said that relocation procedures should continue beyond next September.
Parliament's President, Antonio Tajani called on the member states to “stop dragging their feet” and also called on the Commission to ensure that the law is respected. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic and Pascal Hansens)