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General programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows": European Refugee Fund (ERF) 2008-2013

2009/0127(COD)

The European Parliament adopted by 512 votes to 81 with 7 abstentions a resolution setting out its position at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure (formerly known as the codecision procedure) on the proposal for a decision of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Decision No 573/2007/EC establishing the European Refugee Fund for the period 2008 to 2013 as part of the General programme "Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows" and repealing Council Decision 2004/904/EC, and amended the Commission proposal as follows:

List of refugees considered as common EU annual priorities given their vulnerability: Parliament proposes to set up a list of priority refugees which shall be considered, in any event, as common EU annual priorities, independently of annual priorities with respect to geographic regions and nationalities:

  • children and women at risk, particularly from psychological, physical or sexual violence or exploitation,
  • unaccompanied minors where resettlement is in their best interest, in compliance with the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union and the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child,
  • persons having serious medical needs that require special treatment, in particular conditions that can be treated only following resettlement,
  • survivors of violence and torture,
  • persons in need of emergency or urgent resettlement for legal and protection needs.

Incentives for Member States taking part in the resettlement programme for the first time: in order to encourage more Member States to take part in resettlement actions, additional financial support should be given to those Member States taking part in the resettlement programme for the first time. Parliament proposes that for those Member States that apply for funding for the first time, the fixed amount for each resettled person shall be EUR 6 000 in the first calendar year and EUR 5 000 in the second. In subsequent years the fixed amount shall be EUR 4 000 for each resettled person. The additional amount that new participating Member States receive in the first two years of their participation shall be invested in the development of a sustainable resettlement programme.

Delegated acts: in order to guarantee the European Parliament's prerogatives when the priorities are defined, Members propose to apply the procedure of Article 290 TFEU (delegated acts) which means that the Commission should carry out appropriate consultations during its preparatory work, including at expert level. In addition, in order urgently to update those common EU annual priorities in the event of unforeseen emergencies, the Commission should be empowered to adopt delegated acts under the urgency procedure.