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

The Committee on Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs adopted the recommendation for second reading contained in the report drafted by Rui TAVARES (Greens/EFA, PT) in which it recommends the European Parliament to approve, unamended, the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of 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'.

The committee also recommends that the European Parliament approves the joint statement to the resolution in which it declares that the future decision shall give a concrete expression, in its enacting provisions, to the principle of solidarity, namely in the form of new financial incentives to encourage resettlement by Member States.

In order to ensure its immediate adoption, the European Parliament has agreed to the wording of the Decision in its present form, in a spirit of compromise, whereby explicit reference to Article 80 TFEU is limited to a recital of the Decision. The European Parliament affirms that the adoption of this Decision is without prejudice to the range of legal bases available, in particular concerning the future use of Article 80 TFEU.