So-called success of the relocation scheme

23.4.2018

Question for written answer E-002249-18
to the Commission
Rule 130
Elena Valenciano (S&D) , Juan Fernando López Aguilar (S&D)

In a recent press release on the progress made in implementing the European Agenda on Migration[1], the Commission stated that ‘the EU relocation scheme is successfully coming to an end,’ having relocated ‘more than 96% of all eligible applicants registered’.

In fact, more than two years after the programme started only 33 846 persons have been relocated, far short of the Commission’s target of 98 255, let alone the 160 000 that Member States committed to.

Given that targets are far from being met, despite continued pressure in Greece and Italy, and that the reason is countries following the Commission’s own eligibility requirements rather than necessarily taking into account people’s vulnerability or right to international protection, does the Commission not believe that its declarations of success are complacent and misleading?

Does it believe that the eligibility threshold may have prevented people from non-eligible countries from being processed and protected accordingly, and the relocation scheme from being truly supportive and effective?

What does it think will happen to the tens of thousands of people who have been left stranded in Greece following the EU-Turkey agreement of 18 March 2016?

• [1] http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-1763_en.htm