Based on Commission proposals, the Justice and Home Affairs Council adopted in September 2015 two Decisions to relocate 160,000 asylum seekers from Italy and Greece, to assist them in dealing with the pressures of the refugee crisis.
Under the relocation scheme, asylum seekers in clear need of international protection arriving in Greece and Italy are relocated to other Member States where they will have their asylum applications processed. If these applications are successful, the asylum seekers will be granted refugee status in the Member State to which they have been relocated. The European Commission provides financial support to the Member States participating in the relocation scheme.