MEPs slam EU member states for stalled relocation of refugees

Members of European Parliament (MEPs) have condemned a lack of action from European Union (EU) member states in relocation of 160,000 refugees in a resolution adopted Thursday in Strasbourg.


Adopted by 398 votes in favor to 134 against, with 41 abstentions, the resolution strongly denounces that, despite having committed to moving the refugees from Greece and Italy by September 2017, EU member states have only relocated 11 percent of agreed upon number (18,770 as of May 16).

The summer of 2015's unexpected spike in arrivals of asylum seekers saw the EU adopt emergency measures to relocate 160,000 migrants from the two front-line nations, but European unity has not been forthcoming since the agreement.

In their non-binding resolution, MEPs shared their disappointment in the lack of solidarity and responsibility-sharing. They also urged EU nations to honor their commitments and prioritize the relocation of unaccompanied children, often the most vulnerable members of the refugee population. The text points out that "only one unaccompanied minor was relocated so far."

A number of states were criticized by MEPs for "very restrictive and discriminatory preferences, such as granting relocation only to single mothers or excluding applicants from specific nationalities, such as Eritreans, and applying extensive security checks."

As of Thursday, only two EU countries are on track to meet their relocation targets, Malta and Finland. Meanwhile, four countries have only been relocating refugees on an extremely limited basis, and two countries have not been participating at all.

In a Tuesday debate that proceeded the adoption of the resolution, MEPs condemned the lack of political willpower that has led to the current situation.
 [china.org.cn/globaltimes.cn/Xinhua]
19/5/17