Helping refugees by more efficient resettlement

A proposed EU resettlement programme aims to establish political and practical cooperation among member states in order to provide permanent protection for refugees. This project was discussed by justice and home affairs ministers at the Council on 21 September.

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Resettlement means the transfer of refugees who have been given temporary protection in a first country of asylum to another safe country where they can start a new life and find permanent protection. The vast majority of the world's refugees find themselves in countries that are in the same region as their native land. Most temporary refuges are in developing countries which cannot absorb large numbers of displaced persons. Where return to the country of origin is not possible, resettlement may be the only solution.

The proposed scheme would apply only to the resettlement of refugees from third countries in EU member states. Each one of the 27 would decide for itself whether to participate and how many refugees it was ready to resettle.

At present, ten member states carry out refugee resettlement annually. Others act on an ad-hoc basis. The new scheme is aimed at increasing cooperation and coordination between EU countries in order to improve the effectiveness and cost-efficiency as well as the humanitarian and strategic impact of their resettlement activities. Joint actions would be particularly useful in areas such as identification of the refugees to be resettled and logistical preparation, for instance medical screening, travel and visa arrangements, as well as reception and integration programmes.

More information:
Council press release (pdf)
Council webcast of press conference