During the EP plenary session (15-18 May 2017) in Strasbourg, MEPs debate on making relocation happen. Statements by Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Cecile Kashetu KYENGE (S&amp;D, IT), Co-rapporteur, and Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE).

Strasbourg

debate

plenary session

migration and refugees in Europe (T)

KELLER, Ska (Greens/EFA, DE)

AVRAMOPOULOS, Dimitris (EL, EC)

KYENGE, Cécile Kashetu (S&D, IT)

Making relocation happen: extracts from the debate

SOUNDBITE (English), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Right now, 12,500 eligible applicants in Greece and around 4,000 in Italy are registered and ready to be relocated. If all member states step up the number of relocations it&rsquo;s absolutely possible to achieve this goal by September.

SOUNDBITE (English), Dimitris AVRAMOPOULOS, Member of the EC in charge of Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, While many member states have increased their contributions, there are regrettably still a few member states that have not relocated a single person. I want to be clear on that: this is in breach of their obligations. More generally, member states should also avoid overly restrictive or arbitrary preferences, limit the requirements causing delays in the transfer procedure and give priority to applications concerning vulnerable applicants, in particular unaccompanied minors.

SOUNDBITE (Italian), C&#233;cile Kashetu KYENGE (S&amp;D, IT), Co-rapporteur on the &apos;EU Holistic approach to migration&apos; report, Only two member states out of 28 have actually delivered on their commitments, only two countries that are complying with the relocation of asylum seekers in their territory, many others have promised much but are doing nothing and could achieve much more. And very few are very slowly and with many difficulties doing their part.

SOUNDBITE (English), Ska KELLER (Greens/EFA, DE), Rapporteur on &apos;EU relocation mechanism&apos; report, The problem is not one of capacity, the problem is not one of &lsquo;how shall we do it?&rsquo; it&rsquo;s purely a problem of political will. And I think it&rsquo;s a very scandalous lack of political will, because we are talking here about people who are fleeing from war, from persecution, we are talking about unaccompanied minors, those are the ones that are mainly stuck in Italy and Greece. (&hellip;) So I very much welcome that the Commissioner said that they will take action to any extent possible against those members who are not doing anything.