Nationalist MEP Simon Busuttil has submitted a new proposal to the EU aimed at studying the possibility of introducing an EU-wide resettlement programme for refugees on the same lines as the one already managed by the US government.
Mr Busuttil's proposal was formally launched two weeks ago during a meeting on EU policy and illegal immigration organised in Cyprus by the European Parliament's offices of Cyprus and Greece.
Speaking to The Times yesterday on the margins of an EPP meeting in Paris, Dr Busuttil said that his proposal, presented to the European Parliament's budget committee and already supported by other MEPs, is aimed at helping countries such as Malta better cope with the influx of illegal immigrants and asylum seekers.
Dr Busuttil is proposing the creation of a pilot project to test an EU resettlement mechanism so that it may eventually be pursued under a Common Asylum System.
During the pilot-project, member states would freely determine all aspects of the selection process of refugees on a voluntary basis. Nevertheless the Commission would issue guidelines, facilitate coordination and encourage participation.
The proposal holds that since there is currently no legal basis to introduce this kind of scheme or mechanism, a pilot project would be the most appropriate tool to reach the intended objective. Dr Busuttil proposed a budget allocation of €5 million to be initially used for the implementation of the project.
Dr Busuttil told The Times that a number of similar models already exist on which an Intra-EU Resettlement and Solidarity mechanism may be established. For instance, the mechanism could be based on a system whereby member states would set their own quotas and conditions on how many refugees and beneficiaries of international protection they would host. Member states could also collectively determine the EU target through a Council decision and then enter a bidding process as to which state will take up the quota. Alternatively, he said, the Commission could determine the EU target itself.
"Illegal immigration into the EU is a European problem which needs to be remedied and coordinated at a European level," Dr Busuttil said.
"This proposal for an 'Intra-EU Solidarity Mechanism' could be developed in a way which would entail an organised system whereby EU member states could agree to host refugees and beneficiaries of international protection from other EU member states of first asylum which are facing a disproportionate burden."
According to the Nationalist MEP, the time is now ripe to start determining whether and how a fixed scheme or a mechanism could be established to achieve solidarity through re-allocation.
Currently, many EU member states already operate, on an individual and voluntary basis, their own resettlement or re-allocation programmes.
However, there is no real co-ordination at EU level in this regard and no real attempt to apply re-allocation on an intra-EU basis.
Dr Busuttil said that, although this proposal has already gathered some support, "it's still an uphill struggle". In order to be approved the proposal needs the blessing of all the European Parliament as part of the overall budget approval.
"I hope we will manage," he said. "However, it is still a positive fact that we are putting this issue on the agenda."