Economy - published on 27 July 2017
Source: European Commission Spokesperson’s Service
The College of Commissioners today discussed progress on relocation and resettlement and on showing solidarity with Italy in managing migration along the Central Mediterranean Route.
In a letter to Italian Prime Minister Gentiloni , President Juncker, First Vice-President Timmermans and EU Migration Commissioner Avramopoulos, stressed the important role played
by Italy in managing migration in the Central Mediterranean and outlined a series of measures the Commission is ready to take swiftly, if the Italian government considers it useful in the coming
weeks. These include measures to accelerate relocation, mobilising additional funding and deploying EU agency personnel. The Commission also set up a dedicated contact team for Italy to ensure
rapid operational responses.
See the letter to Prime Minister Gentiloni here.
Reporting on relocation and resettlement, the Commission found that relocations reached record levels in June with almost 3,000 relocations in a single month. However, more efforts
are needed to accelerate transfers from Italy, especially in view of the current situation in the Central Mediterranean. Meanwhile, good progress continues to be made on resettlement and the
Commission has launched a new pledging exercise to resettle the most vulnerable people from Libya, Egypt, Niger, Ethiopia and Sudan while continuing resettlements from Turkey.
The European Commission has today sent reasoned opinions to the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for non-compliance with their legal obligations on relocation. Despite repeated
calls for action and the launch of infringement procedures by the Commission last month, these three countries remain in breach of their legal obligations and have shown disregard for their
commitments to Greece, Italy and other Member States.
See the press release on the relocation infringements here.
