Local view for "http://purl.org/linkedpolitics/eu/plenary/2011-10-26-Speech-3-269-000"
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"en.20111026.19.3-269-000"2
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"Mr President, honourable Members, the Polish Presidency understands the fears Members have expressed about the delay in establishing the joint EU resettlement programme which would be put in place by adopting a proposal amending the decision establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 2008 to 2013. We would like to remind everyone that the present European Refugee Fund for 2008-2013 does identify the question of resettlement as a desirable measure. Furthermore, since 2008 a significant amount has been allocated from the European Refugee Fund to this purpose. Under the present rules, Member States are entitled to apply for the sum of EUR 4 000 for each resettled person falling into one of the categories set out in the appropriate decision.
The main aim of the proposed amendments to the decision establishing the European Refugee Fund for 2008-2013 is to create the possibility to establish common Union annual priorities for resettlement. This would mean that action taken on resettlement at Union level would be better coordinated and focussed. Also important is the fact that annual priorities would contain certain specified categories, some of which are mentioned in the current decision on the European Refugee Fund. For example, one of the categories qualifying for financial support from the European Refugee Fund is persons from a country or region designated for the implementation of a Regional Protection Programme.
The Regional Protection Programme was established in April 2010. It includes persons resettled from North Africa who qualify for grants from the current Refugee Fund. The same applies to particularly vulnerable groups, such as children and women at risk, and also to persons with serious medical needs. Seven Member States: Belgium, Denmark, Finland, Ireland, the Netherlands, Portugal and Sweden have offered the Bureau of the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees 408 places to resettle persons from North Africa.
While it is true that participation in resettlement work is voluntary, the European Parliament has suggested the adoption of further incentives to involve a greater number of Member States by increasing the levels of the grants available. The proposal being made is for the provision of EUR 6 000 for each resettled person for a Member State which uses the Fund for resettlement purposes for the first time, and EUR 5 000 for each resettled person for a Member State which has already used the Fund in the past. The Council would be able to support these plans. However, the Council cannot support the suggestion of the European Parliament on application of the procedure of delegated acts pursuant to Article 290 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union in order to adopt common Union annual priorities for resettlement. The Council’s position is based on explanations provided by the European Commission relating to the time frames imposed by the programming period in connection with operation of the General Programme ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows’. The Council shares the view of the Commission that establishing annual priorities for resettlement is a purely executive function, because it concerns the application of detailed principles specified in a decision concerning a specific situation.
The Council is trying to find a way to resolve this issue, and this includes consideration of the alternative approach put forward in May of this year, thanks to which it would be possible to avoid the necessity of using delegated acts. Nevertheless, the Polish Presidency does regret that it has so far not been possible to find a mutually acceptable solution to this particular question and that as a result of this situation it has not yet been possible to adopt the decision in question in full. Considering that measures related to resettlements can be financed from the current Refugee Fund and taking into account the fact that there is now only one annual period left in the present programme, the Polish Presidency thinks it would be better to continue the discussion on establishing a joint EU resettlement programme in the context of the next programming period."@en1
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