Update 3 | EU to relocate 120,000 refugees • Malta to take in 189

EU interior ministers have voted by a majority to adopt a resolution on the redistribution of asylum seekers among EU member states. Czech Republic, Slovakia, Romania and Hungary voted against while Finland chose to abstain.

The European Commission confirmed that Home Affairs Ministers decided to relocate 120,000 refugees from Greece, Italy and other Member States directly affected by the refugee crisis, less than three weeks after the Commission came forward with its proposal.

According to the decision, 66,000 persons will be relocated from Italy and Greece (15,600 from Italy and 50,400 from Greece) . The remaining 54,000 persons will be relocated from Italy and Greece in the same proportion after one year of the entry into force of the decision. The member states participating in the mechanism will receive a lump sum of €6,000 for each relocated person.

Malta will be taking in 71 refugees out of 66,000 and 58 refugees out of 54,000. The numbers exclude a group of 60 refugees that will be taken in under an original plan to relocate 40,000 people.

Addressing a press briefing right after the meeting, Jean Asselborn said the ministers had succeeded in reaching an agreement on the European Commission’s plan, drafted to face up to the emergency situation the member states were faced.

“We must also come to the aid of refugees,” Luxembourg's foreign minister said, adding that the question of a more permanent mechanism will come up again in the future. “It must be part of a far-reaching plan.”

Asselborn said today’s provisional mechanism enjoyed “a very big majority which goes beyond what is required by the treaties”.

But the EU’s failure to agree on the relocation by consensus means that the EU will once again face criticism of a divided Europe which was not doing enough to help victims of war and oppression.

Grilled by journalists, first Vice-President of the European Commission Frans Timmermans insisted that the plan will be followed through despite there not being consensus.

“It’s relatively simple: the Commission made a proposal, the member states voted and the outcome of that vote will be respected. Nobody challenged that decision,” he said.

He added that the Commission was under obligation to enforce what is agreed and that the Commission will ensure that implementation remains an integral part of its activities.

Interjecting, Asselborn said that “nobody has the right not to agree if it is taken by qualified majority”.

Timmermans added that while the media’s attention was on the meeting’s outcome, the afternoon’s decision was also about “rebuilding trust between member states”.

Asselborn said some member states didn’t want to join in the relocation plan, because of “their other legitimate points of view”. He added that he had no doubt that they would still implement the provisions fully, in respect with community law.

“We are in an emergency situation and facing accusations of not doing enough. We had to take this legal decision. And not doing so (putting it down to a vote) would have seen a more divided Europe and the union’s credibility further undermined,” he said. “It reminds us that European Union is founded on solidarity between member states, but also reminds us that solidarity should be shown to people in need of protection.”

European Commission for Migration Dimitris Avramopoulos expressed his “personal satisfaction” and “happiness” over the agreement. He said, that the Commission would leave no stone unturned to implement its plan to address the crisis.

In a statement, the European Commission said it welcomed the efforts undertaken by all Member States to reach this result, and salutes in particular the tireless work of the Luxembourg Presidency of the Council.

EU leaders will be meeting tomorrow in Brussels.

Following this decision, the EU is now in a position to relocate a total of 160,000 people in clear need of international protection in the coming two years. The Commission and the EU agencies will organise together with the Member States the necessary coordination to implement the mechanism on the ground.

“The European Commission has been consistently and continuously working for a coordinated European response on the refugees and migration front. Relocation is part of a comprehensive approach to deal with the ongoing refugee crisis,” it said.

Interior Ministers are now expected to move forward on the other proposals made by the Commission, including the EU List of Safe Countries of Origin and the further reform of the Dublin system, at the next Justice and Home Affairs Council on 8 October.

"At the same time, the root causes of the refugee crisis must be addressed. That is why tomorrow Heads of State and Government will discuss the immediate priority actions which are necessary to address the instability in our vicinity, and the refugee pressures on neighbouring countries."

The Commission said it will continue to work in close cooperation with the European Parliament, the Council and the 28 EU Member States, as well as with key third countries such as Serbia and Turkey.