The Justice and Home Affairs Council has adopted a decision to relocate a further 120,000 people in need of international protection from certain EU Member States experiencing high inflows of refugees to other parts of the EU.
It will apply to 120,000 persons in clear need of international protection who have arrived or are arriving on the territory of those member states over the period from six months before the entry into force of the scheme, until two years thereafter. Some flexibility exists to adapt the scheme to changing circumstances, but it is currently foreseen that:
- 66,000 persons will be relocated from Italy and Greece (15,600 from Italy and 50,400 from Greece).
- 54,000 persons will be relocated from Italy and Greece in the same proportion after one year of the entry into force of the decision.
This is in addition to the earlier decision to relocate some 40,000 people from Italy and Greece, thus bringing the total number of people to be relocated to 160,000.
Member states participating in the mechanism will receive a lump sum of €6,000 for each relocated person.
Source: Annex 1 and Annex 2 Council Decision establishing provisional measures in the area of international protection for the benefit of Italy and Greece. Note: Ireland has expressed its intention to participate. Denmark and the United Kingdom are not participating in this decision.
Ireland:
Ireland has expressed its intention to participate. Denmark and the United Kingdom are not participating in this decision.
Following the meeting, Minister Fitzgerald said in line with Irish constitutional provisions she intended to seek Dáil and Seanad approval to formally opt in to the Decision next week following official publication of the measure in the Official Journal.
Ireland is prepared to accept up to 4,000 persons in need of international protection, including the 520 programme refugees currently being resettled in Ireland directly from refugee camps.
Next steps:
23 September 2015: Informal meeting of heads of state or government.
8 – 9 October 2015: Justice and Home Affairs Council.
For more information:
See main results of the extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting.
See statement by Minister Fitzgerald following extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council meeting.
See statement by the European Commission on relocation of 120,000 refugees following the decision at the Extraordinary Justice and Home Affairs Council.
Note: Ireland has expressed its intention to participate. Denmark and the United Kingdom are not participating in this decision.
