(1)

The purpose of this Regulation is to enable the re-commitment of the remaining amounts committed to support the implementation of the Council Decisions (EU) 2015/1523 and (EU) 2015/1601 provided for under Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council (8) or the allocation of them to other actions under the national programmes in line with Union priorities and Member States' needs in the areas of migration and asylum.

(1)

The purpose of this Regulation is to enable the re-commitment of the remaining amounts committed to support the implementation of the Council Decisions (EU) 2015/1523 and (EU) 2015/1601 provided for under Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council (8) or the allocation of them to other actions under the national programmes in line with Union priorities and Member States' needs in specific areas of migration and asylum . It is also to ensure that such re-commitment or allocation occurs in a transparent manner .

(4)

Member States should have the possibility to use the above-mentioned amounts to continue implementing relocation by re-committing the amounts to the same action in the national programmes. In addition , it should be possible, duly justified in the revision of Member States' national programmes, to use this funding also to address other challenges in the area of migration and asylum, in line with the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Regulation. Member States' needs in these areas remain significant. Re-commitments of the above-mentioned amounts to the same action, or their transfer to other actions under the national programme should be possible only once and with the approval of the Commission.

(4)

Member States should have the possibility to use the above-mentioned amounts to continue implementing relocation by re-committing the amounts to the same action in the national programmes. As a minimum, Member States should re-commit 20 % of those amounts to actions in national programmes, for relocation of applicants for international protection or relocation of beneficiaries of international protection, or for resettlement and other ad-hoc humanitarian admission. For the remainder of those amounts , it should be possible, where duly justified in the revision of Member States' national programmes, to fund specific actions provided for in Chapters II and III in the area of migration and asylum, in line with the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Regulation, notably in developing aspects of the Common European Asylum System, in particular family reunification or for supporting legal migration to the Member States and promoting the effective integration of third-country nationals. Member States' needs in those areas remain significant. Re-commitments of the above-mentioned amounts to the same action, or their transfer to other actions under the national programme should be possible only once and with the approval of the Commission. Member States should ensure that the allocation of funds takes place in full respect of the principles set out in the Financial Regulation, in particular efficiency and transparency.

(5)

The target group eligible for relocation should be expanded to give more flexibility to Member States in carrying out relocations.

(5)

The target group eligible for relocation as well as the countries from where relocation takes place should be expanded to give more flexibility to Member States in carrying out relocations. Priority should be given to the relocation of unaccompanied minors, other vulnerable applicants and family members of beneficiaries of international protection.

(7)

Member States should also have sufficient time to use the amounts re-committed to the same action or transferred to other actions prior to the decommitment of these amounts. Therefore, when such re-commitments or transfers of amounts under the national programme are approved by the Commission, the amounts concerned should be considered to have been committed in the year of the revision of the national programme that approves the re-commitment or the transfer concerned.

(7)

Member States should also have sufficient time to use the amounts re-committed to the same action or transferred to other specific actions prior to the decommitment of these amounts. Therefore, when such re-commitments or transfers of amounts under the national programme are approved by the Commission, the amounts concerned should be considered to have been committed in the year of the revision of the national programme that approves the re-commitment or the transfer concerned.

(7a)

The Commission should report annually to the European Parliament and to the Council as regards the application of resources for the transfer of applicants for international protection and of beneficiaries of international protection, in particular as regards transfers to other actions under the national programme and re-commitments.

(12a)

Without amendment of Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 before the end of 2018, the relevant funding will no longer be available for Member States' use under the national programmes supported by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund. Given the urgency of amending Regulation (EU) No 516/2014, it is appropriate to provide for an exception to the eight-week period referred to in Article 4 of Protocol No 1 on the role of national Parliaments in the European Union, annexed to the Treaty on European Union, to the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union and to the Treaty establishing the European Atomic Energy Community.

(-1)

(1)

(1a)

(4)

(4a)