The Council adopted a decision establishing a temporary and exceptional relocation mechanism over two years from the frontline Member States Italy and Greece to other Member States.
It will apply to 120 000 persons in clear need of international protection who have arrived or are arriving on the territory of those member states as from six months before the entry into force until two years after the entry into force.
According to the decision:
However, if the Commission considers that the
functioning in practice of the relocation mechanism needs to be
adapted to the evolution of the situation on the ground or that a
Member State is confronted with an emergency situation
characterised by a sudden inflow of nationals of third countries
due to a sharp shift of migration flows, it may submit a
proposal to amend this decision.
The Member States participating in the mechanism will receive a
lump sum of EUR 6 000 for each relocated person. Denmark and
the United Kingdom are not participating in this decision. Ireland
has expressed its intention to participate.
To recall, the special procedure for the adoption of the decision establishes that the Council will consult the European Parliament. On 17 September 2015, the European Parliament adopted its opinion approving the Commission’s initial proposal without making any amendments.