In an effort to re-establish the migrant relocation plan from Italy and Greece, to other EU countries, the European union has called out its member states to live up to their side of responsibility.
At the height of the migrant influx to Europe in September 2015, EU nations agreed to share 160,000 asylum-seekers who had arrived to Italy and Greece over a period of two years. The executive Commission of the EU said on Thursday, that only 1,546 have since been relocated — a number drastically lower than the agreed plan.
Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos stated “there are no more excuses for the member states not to deliver.” The Commissioner stressed that it is possible to relocate all those who are eligible from Italy and Greece by September. “Countries responsibilities to fulfill their pledges to accept refugees won’t end then.” Avramopoulos went on to compare the situation to that of having an outstanding bill. “You have to pay it,” he said.
As of now, the only two countries that have fulfilled their obligations are Malta and Finland. If there are no “tangible results” by September, the EU Commission “will not hesitate to make use of its power to take legal action against offending countries,” Avramopoulos said.
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