05/07/2022 (Agence Europe) – The Czech Presidency of the EU Council and the European Commission continued, on Monday 4 July, work on the declaration of solidarity with the countries of the south of the EU and the operational implementation of the Member States’ commitments. The discussion will continue in Prague on 11 July, at the informal meeting of EU interior ministers, with the aim of carrying out the first voluntary relocations of people rescued at sea by the end of July. France had set a target of 10,000 voluntary relocations per year and 21 EU and Schengen countries had announced on 22 June that they were ready to help in some way (see EUROPE 12977/19). So far, a dozen Member States are said to be ready to commit to voluntary relocations, with the Commission also collecting commitments in the form of financial or material aid. (SP)