The European Commission on
Tuesday said that "more efforts are needed to ensure the
relocation of all eligible applicants present in Italy" in its
13th report on relocation and resettlement.
It said it is "crucial that Italy accelerates its efforts to
centralise the relocation procedure (particularly the last
stages) in a few designated centres, and also to transfer all
relocation applicants 10 days before the departure to reception
centres in or close to Rome".
The progress report was among four released by the Commission
on measures taken under the European Agenda on Migration to
stabilise the flows and better manage the external borders.
It looked at how member States are implementing European
Council decisions to relocate a total of 160,000 people from
Italy and Greece, which are taking the brunt of the
Mediterranean asylum seeker crisis.
In the report, the EC announced it was launching infringement
procedures against the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for
failing to meet their obligations in relation to this agreement.
But the Commission also said progress was being made.
"The first five months of 2017 have witnessed a significant
increase in the pace of relocation. Since January almost 10,300
people had been relocated," the report said.
"This is more than a fivefold increase compared to the same
period of 2016 by when only 1,600 persons had been relocated.
This is the result of procedures becoming fully operational
during the second half of 2016, the majority of Member States
currently pledging on a regular basis and the continued efforts
from the two beneficiary Member States to improve mutual
cooperation and trust".
ALL RIGHTS RESERVED © Copyright ANSA
