The Feasibility of Setting Up Resettlement Schemes in EU Member States or at EU Level

Building on the momentum achieved by the November 22, 2000 Communication on a Common Asylum Procedure in the European Union, an EU commission called for two feasibility studies. The first of the two, this study examines the potential of expanding resettlement programs to additional EU Member States. Specifically, this report seeks to understand the circumstances under which EU Member States are likely to engage in resettlement programs.

The study promotes the development of a Common European International Protection System (CEIPS) as a means to incorporate resettlement, asylum, and assistance in the region of origin, all under a single integrated agenda. While political will is crucial to the successful expansion of resettlement in the European Union, the study finds that additional public and private financial instruments may help to foster the political will to engage in refugee resettlement. Nonetheless, the study emphasizes, promoting a strong resettlement program should be seen as a means to replace traditional asylum systems.

In fact, the study finds that the introduction of a resettlement program will have little impact on the number of spontaneous arrivals each year. In addition, the study presents six viable models for EU involvement and offers a broad discussion over fundamental aspects of a resettlement program, including policy goals; level setting; selection goals, criteria, methods, and procedures; preparations; arrival; reception; and long-term integration.