Resettlement of refugees: EU framework

Briefing 15-02-2024

On 13 July 2016, as part of the reform of the common European asylum system and the long-term policy on better migration management, the European Commission presented a proposal to provide for a permanent framework with standard common procedures for resettlement across the EU, to complement current national and multilateral resettlement initiatives. Resettlement is a tool to help displaced persons in need of protection reach Europe safely and legally, and receive protection for as long as necessary. It is a durable solution that includes selection and transfer of refugees from a country where they seek protection to another country. In addition to providing refugees with international protection, its aim is to strengthen solidarity and responsibility-sharing between countries. For a resettlement to take place, the United Nations Refugee Agency has to determine an applicant is a refugee according to the 1951 Geneva Convention, and has to identify resettlement as the most appropriate solution. Although the European Parliament and the Council reached a partial provisional agreement on the proposal in summer 2018, the Council was unable to endorse it, nor could it agree on a mandate for further negotiations. The co-legislators finally reached an agreement on 15 December 2022. On 8 February 2024, Coreper approved the provisional agreement, which will now have to be formally adopted by both institutions before it can enter into force. Fifth edition. The 'EU Legislation in Progress' briefings are updated at key stages throughout the legislative procedure.