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Commission’s proposal for a joint EU Resettlement Programme is a step in the right direction


Brussels, 22 September 2009 - Earlier this month the European Commission presented a proposal for a Joint EU Resettlement Programme to tackle the current lack of cooperation, cohesion and coordination existing among Member States in this field. 

Caritas Europa welcomes this move from the Commission as it hopefully will deliver great relief for the growing number of people in need of resettlement. This status is viewed as the last resort for those who have fled their countries of origin and cannot remain in the receiving or transit state. According to estimations from the United Nations High Commission for Refugees, in 2010 alone, some 203,000 refugees (of the approximate 10 million refugees worldwide) will be in need of resettlement. 

The European Commission’s proposal aims to:

  • facilitate further resettlement within the EU by providing greater protection for refugees and greater political and practical cooperation between Member States,
  • standardise practices among all Member States, through setting common annual resettlement priorities and making a more effective use of the financial assistance available through the European Refugee Fund, and

  • encourage Member States that lack any resettlement programme whatsoever to take part in future programmes.
      In 2010 more than 200,000 refugees will be in need of resettlement 

In 2010 more than 200,000 refugees will be in need of resettlement

Photo: Wikipedia.org

The Programme encompasses the creation of two bodies:

  • The Resettlement Expert Group that will be responsible for information exchange and for encouraging Member States that are not taking part in resettlement activities to start doing so. 
  • The European Asylum Support Office that, operational in 2010, will provide a structured framework for carrying out practical resettlement cooperation activities; coordinate issues related to the implementation/mechanisms of the Common European Asylum System; serve as a rapporteur to the Council and the European Parliament on the resettlement efforts made in the EU; and monitor the progress of the pledges made by Member States in this field.

The Joint EU Resettlement Programme will be evaluated in 2014 and Caritas Europa thinks that it would be highly desirable to include this Programme in the Stockholm Programme (due to be adopted in late 2009) in order to turn it into an EU priority for the next five years.


For more information, please contact:
Peter Verhaeghe
Migration Officer
Tel.: + 32 (0)2 235 03 96
Mob.: + 32 (0)478 58 54 33
E-Mail: pverhaeghe@caritas-europa.org

 
 

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