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EU Parliament proposes payments to refugee host countries

18 May 2010, 16:34 CET
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(STRASBOURG) - The European Parliament on Tuesday called for a 6,000-euro (7,450-dollar) payment to EU countries for each refugee they take in from a third country.

Currently only 10 of the 27 EU nations take part in refugee "reinstallation" programmes, which found new homes for 4,378 people in 2008.

The EU parliamentary proposal concerns notably Iraqi refugees, currently in Syria, who fled the conflict at home and are hoping to resettle in Europe.

"EU Member States that volunteer to welcome third-country refugees could receive up to 6,000 euros per resettled person," under the draft EU law amended by parliament on Tuesday.

The host nation would then receive 5,000 euros in the second year and then 4,000 euros, with the money to come from the existing EU refugee fund.

EU nations currently contribute far less to refugee resettlement than do other developed countries such as the United States, Australia and Canada.

The Euro MPs also approved the setting up of a European Asylum Support Office, following an agreement reached with the member states.

The scheme would have to be approved by EU nations before it could come into force, something which is by no means guaranteed, not least due to differences over the criteria for choosing the bona fide refugees from other asylum seekers.

The European Asylum Support Office is, however, now formally approved.

Based in Malta's capital of Valletta, the office will lend its expertise to member states receiving asylum seekers.

Adopted text will be available on European Parliament website (click on 18 May)


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