MEPs agree on €5 million EU solidarity mechanism

The European Parliament has allocated €5 million for the setting up and administration of a new intra-EU solidarity mechanism that will kick-start the voluntary burden-sharing mechanism.

The move follows amendments proposed by Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil to the EP's Budgets Committee to launch a new intra-EU resettlement programme for refugees and beneficiaries of international protection, similar to the one in place between Malta and the US.

Following a marathon session to approve the EU's budget for 2009 at first reading, the committee backed Dr Busuttil's amendment to increase the European Refuge Fund's allocation by a further €10 million. Half these funds, will be utilised specifically for the setting up and administration of the proposed solidarity mechanism.

Following yesterday's approval, the new mechanism will now have to be negotiated with the EU Council (member states) before getting the final green light.

Negotiations are expected to be held next month and the final approval of next year's EU budget by the EP is scheduled for December.

Visibly satisfied by the move, Dr Busuttil said this was another step forward for Malta to get the help it needed in a concrete way.

"I am delighted that Parliament has followed in the steps of the Immigration Pact, recently adopted by Council, in giving its green light for a burden-sharing mechanism," he said.

"Moreover, we went one step further by allocating an initial €5 million to help get this mechanism going. Through this move Parliament has put its money where its mouth is."

According to Dr Busuttil's proposal, the EU should set up the intra-EU solidarity mechanism next year. This will ease the voluntary reallocation of refugees and beneficiaries of international protection from EU member states, which are facing severe pressure from immigration flows to other EU countries.

According to the committee's approved amendment, "member states would freely determine all aspects of the selection process on a voluntary basis and the Commission would set the framework, issue guidelines, encourage participation and facilitate management coordination".

The committee's decision comes close after EU Justice Ministers approved the EU Immigration Pact, which, on Malta's insistence, includes a commitment for burden sharing.

Dr Busuttil's amendment was supported by the EPP-ED Group and the Socialist Group within the committee, including Labour MEP Louis Grech.