The European Parliament adopted by 437 votes to 211, with 10 abstentions, a legislative resolution on the proposal for a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council, as regards the recommitment, or allocation to other actions under national programmes, of the remaining amounts committed to support the implementation of Council Decisions (EU) 2015/1523 and (EU) 2015/1601.
As a reminder, the proposal to amend Council Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) allows Member States to re-commit or transfer amounts within national programmes, through revisions to these national programmes, in order to promote EU priorities in the areas of migration and asylum, including relocation.
The European Parliaments position adopted at first reading under the ordinary legislative procedure amended the Commission proposal as follows:
Re-commitment of amounts: part of the funding allocated in 2016 under Decisions (EU) 2015/1523 and (EU) 2015/1601 remains available in Member States' national programmes.
Member States shall recommit or transfer at least 20% of those amounts to actions in national programmes, for the transfer of applicants for international protection or of beneficiaries of international protection, for resettlement or other ad hoc humanitarian admissions, as well as for preparatory measures for the transfer of applicants for international protection following their arrival in the Union, including by sea, or for the transfer of beneficiaries of international protection.
Such measures shall not include measures related to detention.
Where a Member State recommits or transfers resources below that minimum percentage, it shall not be possible to transfer the difference between the recommitted or transferred amount and the minimum percentage to other actions under the national programme.
Other challenges: where duly justified in the revision of Member States' national programmes, it shall be possible for Member States to use up to 80 % of those amounts to address other challenges in the areas of asylum and migration. Recommitments of the remaining amounts to the same action, or their transfer to other actions under the national programme should be possible only once and with the approval of the Commission. Member States shall ensure that the allocation of funds takes place in a manner that fully respects the principles set out in the Financial Regulation, in particular efficiency and transparency.
Broadening the number of beneficiaries: the target group eligible for transfer, as well as the number of Member States from which transfers take place, should be expanded to give more flexibility to Member States in carrying out transfers, taking into account the specific needs of unaccompanied minors, or other vulnerable applicants, and the specific situation of family members of beneficiaries of international protection.
Lump sum: to effectively pursue the objectives of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility between the Member States, the Commission shall be empowered to adopt delegated acts to adjust the lump sum granted for the resettlement and transfer from one Member State to another of beneficiaries of international protection.
Monitoring: the Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament and the Council on the use of resources for the transfer of applicants for international protection and beneficiaries of international protection, in particular with regard to transfers of amounts to other actions under the national programmes.
Parliament stressed the urgency of amending Regulation (EU) No 516/2014, specifying that if the relevant funding will no longer be available for Member States' use under the national programmes supported by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. In view of the urgency of amending Regulation (EU) No 516/2014, if the Regulation is not amended before the end of 2018, the relevant funding may no longer be used by Member States under national programmes supported by AMIF.