New comprehensive EU common migration policy and conditions for the distribution of refugees among all Member States

5.6.2015

Question for written answer P-009229-15
to the Commission
Rule 130
Iliana Iotova (S&D)

The Commission has brought forward a proposal for a comprehensive EU common migration policy, which includes a pilot project for the resettlement of 20 000 refugees from outside the EU as well as measures to assist Italy and Greece through the transfer of 40 000 refugees to the other Member States over the next two years. The Commission has explained that its support for Italy and Greece is an extraordinary measure in response to the high migratory pressure on their borders. Can the Commission state, in this connection:

• 1.whether it feels that Member States that have already taken in large numbers of refugees since 2011 should not have to accept additional refugees in the next two years under the Commission plan referred to above, to enable them to cope with the refugees already within their borders (e.g. prompt fingerprinting under the Eurodac system; accommodation; issuing of documents)?
• 2.whether the pilot project for the transfer of 40 000 refugees from Italy and Greece and of 20 000 refugees from outside the EU will take into account the number of refugees already accepted by a given Member State when it comes to its inclusion in/exclusion from implementing the project and, if so, calculated from what date?
• 3.whether or not it has defined ‘high migratory pressure’ and what are the criteria used to calculate this?