The Resettlement of Refugees in the European Union is fairly below its capacities: only ten of the 27 member states execute it. Nowadays, there are around 747 thousand people in refugee camps waiting for a new life but the new resettlement programme approved today in the EP with large majority can be an important contribution to improve this situation.

The EU contributed to only 6.7% of the global resettlement of refugees in 2008, with 4,378 individuals, which is far less than other develop countries as the USA, Australia and Canada. The number of individuals that need to be resettled is determined by the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). But according to Rui Tavares, member of GUE/NGL and EL party, Europe can do much more in this matter, and there is no reason for keeping this problem an unsolved matter.

The new legislation establishes that EU Member States volunteering to welcome third-country refugees could receive up to €6,000 per resettled person when applying for the first time, €5,000 in the second year and €4,000 afterward.

The resettlement programme goes behind a number of EU priorities, upon which the Council have yet to be in agreement.  MEPs want priority to go to children and women at risk of violence or exploitation, unaccompanied minors, persons with grave medical needs, and survivors of violence and torture. The Council also wishes to set up priorities according to the geographic origin and nationality of refugees.

“The ones who have seen children in refugee camps waiting for years, and more years to have an education can understand the urgency of this matter. A budget line is not enough; we should give an integrated answer to this problem. “, Rui Tavares defended in the plenary.