Migration: Record month for relocations from Italy and Greece
Today, the Commission has adopted its 14th progress report on relocation of asylum seekers within the EU and resettlement of refugees from outside the EU.
With relocations reaching record levels in June (with over 2,000 relocated from Greece and almost 1,000 from Italy) and almost all Member States pledging and transferring regularly, relocating all those eligible remains feasible before September. However, more efforts are needed to accelerate transfers from Italy, especially in view of the current situation in the Central Mediterranean. Meanwhile, good progress continues to be made on resettlement and the Commission has launched a new pledging exercise to resettle the most vulnerable people from Libya, Egypt, Niger, Ethiopia and Sudan while continuing resettlements from Turkey.
EU Migration Commissioner Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “Looking at the results achieved so far, one thing is very clear: relocation works if the political will is there. What we need now is a final push to achieve our common goal of relocating the vast majority of the asylum seekers present and eligible in Greece and Italy by September. Italy in particular is under enormous pressure and I call on all Member States to further step up their relocation efforts from Italy. The EU won’t leave countries with an external border alone and the Commission will continue to ensure that all Member States comply with their legal obligations when it comes to relocation.”
In parallel, the Commission is today taking forward the infringement procedures against the Czech Republic, Hungary and Poland for failing to meet their legal obligations on relocation.
Relocation
The pace of relocation has continued to increase over recent months, with transfers reaching more than 1,000 every month since November 2016 and June 2017 representing a new record monthly high with over 3,000 transfers. As of 24 July, the total number of relocations stands at 24,676 (16,803 from Greece; 7,873 from Italy).
Continuous efforts are needed with around 4,800 candidates currently awaiting relocation from Greece — with the number likely to increase to 6,800 — and continuous arrivals of eligible candidates to Italy. Italy still needs to urgently enrol eligible arrivals in 2016 and the first half of 2017 in the scheme. This concerns in particular Eritreans of whom around 25,000 have arrived in Italy since the beginning of 2016 but of which only 10,000 have been registered for relocation. As outlined in the Commission’s Action plan to support Italy, the Italian authorities should swiftly register all Eritreans currently present in the country and centralise the relocation procedure in dedicated hubs. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) is supporting Italy’s efforts with an online outreach campaign to identify all potential applicants.
In this final phase, it is crucial that Member States accelerate relocations and provide enough pledges to relocate all eligible applicants, including those who are likely to arrive until 26 September. In any case, Member States’ legal obligation to relocate will not cease after September: the Council Decisions on relocation apply to all persons arriving in Greece or Italy until 26 September 2017 and eligible applicants must be relocated within a reasonable timeframe thereafter.
A number of Member States are close to fully fulfilling their relocation obligations: Malta, Latvia and also Norway — a Schengen Associated State participating voluntarily in the scheme — have all relocated their full allocations for Greece and Sweden who only started relocation in June will have relocated almost 60% of its allocation. The Commission also welcomes the recently-announced increase in the monthly pledges by Spain and the announced acceleration in the pace of transfers by Germany.
Resettlement
Overall progress on resettlement continues to be positive with around three quarters (17,179) of the 22,504 resettlements agreed in July 2015 already carried out. As several States with large allocations have fulfilled their resettlement commitment under the Conclusions of July 2015 or are very close to doing so, most efforts are now being directed towards resettlements under the EU-Turkey Statement. However, resettlement efforts under this scheme remain uneven with a number of Member States not having resettled a single person yet.
Resettlements from Turkey continue to increase steadily. Since 14 June another 1,552 Syrian refugees have been resettled from Turkey to EU Member States. The total number of resettlements under the Statement now stands at 7,806. In parallel, the negotiations on the Standard Operating Procedures for the Voluntary Humanitarian Admission Scheme between participating states and Turkey are progressing, and the objective is to have them agreed as soon as possible.
On 4 July, the Commission invited Member States to submit new resettlement pledges for 2018 which will be financially supported by the Commission. This pledging exercise aims to bridge the gap between the ongoing resettlement schemes and the adoption of the Commission’s proposal on a new resettlement framework on which legislative discussions are ongoing. In line with the Action Plan to support Italy and with a view to reducing migratory pressure on Libya, saving lives and providing alternatives to dangerous irregular migration paths, Member States were specifically invited to focus on resettlement from Libya, Egypt, Niger, Ethiopia and Sudan while continuing resettlements from Turkey. The Commission has earmarked €377.5 million for resettlement in 2018, which can support the resettlement of at least 37,750 people in need of international protection (€10,000 per person).
When she returned home, Florence-infant tried to reproduce the forms and colours that had dazzled her. It was not counting the mockery of her girlfriends class or play.
Eventually, she decided to forget. Several decades later, she became aware of what she really was. A straight woman, clear in her mind, and in love with her roots.
Florence now paints in spite of herself. She paints. She’s painting. It does not stop. The flood that it has so long contained, during all these years is pouring into the life of today.
But do not be deceived. Florence does not copy; she does not imitate anything or anyone. Only the inner energy linked to his native Cameroon and his personal life, makes him throw on a canvas this gaiety and this hope.
Today, she continues the exhibitions in beautiful places. She has appeared in many newspapers and magazines. These works are acquired by great business man and collector.
And at the 2010 FIFA World Cup, in South Africa she was chosen along with 2 other artists to represent Cameroon. With her painting entitled “Welcome to all”. She is also regularly asked to illustrate the cover pages of school books.
These results led her to realise one of these dreams. The one to open, this own art gallery, she’s named “Mbakop Gallery”.
There are exhibited many of his works expressing the artist’s feelings with words that him his own. Florence Béal describes herself as a singular person with singular ideas. 
A cordial and lively reception, attended by scores of ambassadors, public figures, members of the business community and the Egyptian diaspora.
For Dario it became a long mystical and spiritual journey, an exploration of Diana’s enigmatic character, her emotions, her motivations, and her fascination with the phenomenon of love. Dario’s meticulous research into every facet of her life has resulted in a work, which has great profundity and truth to life, while acknowledging the gaiety and brilliance of a beautiful, if flawed aristocrat.
The Producer Richard Pine wrote « …the recording demonstrates…its emotional appeal, the immediate catchiness of its rhythms and lyrics, and the richness of the orchestral texture »… « The jewel at the heart of the musical remains that what it had been from the outset, a celebration of her life, beauty and demeanour ». Dario wrote; the moral of the story is simply that « what we say and do to other people effects and shapes their lives, whether for good or bad. Therefore, each individual has his or her own personal responsibility to manage their actions towards others ».
He also other recorded compositions including Nostradamus 1999 and « Nostradamus » released by Plaza Records Ltd London. He composed « Corazon », for The Children for Peace a UNESCO recognized charity in Rome. Dario was invited in 2016 to compose a special anthem “ Ever Changing World” for the Inaugural Gala of the Peace, Justice and Security Foundation at the Peace Palace in The Hague where Sharon Stone gave an inspiring speech (music by Dario Poli, Lyrics David Mairs and Production David Redston).
As a Humanist, Dario was moved by the attendees who shared their stories of War and Deprivation and their capacity to Carry On. He also met Dr Mary Atkin Cyber Criminologist advisor for Europol , Interpol, FBI and even the White House whose work inspired the famous TV series “CSI Cyber” as she congratulated him for his Anthem and signed him a personal copy of her new book “The Cyber Effect”.
