WIREDGOV

The House of Lords EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee has yesterday published a short report calling on the Government to participate in the negotiation of a proposed scheme to relocate migrants, provided that the European Commission either amends its existing proposal or drafts a new proposal in line with the Conclusions of the European Council of 25 June 2015.

• Report: The UK opt-in to the proposed Council Decision on the relocation of migrants within the EU (PDF)
• Report: The UK opt-in to the proposed Council Decision on the relocation of migrants within the EU (HTML)
• Scrutiny Work: Relocation of migrants opt-in
• EU Home Affairs Sub-Committee

Background

For the first time, the European Commission has triggered an emergency response mechanism, in order to assist Italy and Greece - who are bearing the brunt of dealing with the large number of migrants entering the EU - by setting up a two-year scheme to relocate 40,000 migrants to other Member States in accordance with a quota. The scheme is temporary and conditional on Italy and Greece taking concrete steps to improve the screening and reception of migrants landing on their shores.

Report recommendations

The European Council meeting of 25 June agreed to adopt a relocation scheme which would be agreed "by consensus" by all participating Member States. This appears to be a rejection of the Commission's mandatory model. 

In its report, the Committee argues that should the Commission amend its proposal or bring forward another one in line with the Council's Conclusions, the UK should fully take part in negotiations on it.

Futher information

• About Parliament: Select committees
• Visiting Parliament: Select committees