European Commission proposes to almost triple funding for migration and border management to €34.9 billion, as compared to €13 billion in the previous period.
- The new fund will continue and build on the work of the past years to better protect the EU’s borders with the roll-out of the European Border and Coast Guard, systematic checks at the borders, new large-scale and interoperable IT systems, including a future Entry/Exit system.
- Funding will be channelled towards tackling migrant smuggling and trafficking in human beings as well as intercepting and stopping those who pose a threat, support for search and rescue at sea, equipment and training for border guards, and swift operational support for Member States under pressure;
- The fund will also ensure the EU’s visa policy continues to evolve and modernise, whilst strengthening security and mitigating irregular migration risks;
- €3.2 billion will be devoted to targeted support to Member States, EU-level projects and to address urgent needs.
- €900 million will be dedicated to further strengthening the new European Union Agency for Asylum.
First Vice-President Frans Timmermans said: “Based on past experience and the knowledge that migration will remain a challenge in the future, we are proposing an unprecedented increase in funding.”
Commissioner for Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos said: “Better managing our external borders and migration will remain key priorities for the EU, the Member States and our citizens in the years to come. Bigger challenges need bigger resources – this is why we propose to almost triple the budget in this area. The reinforced funding will be pivotal in ensuring that we can implement these political priorities: further secure our external borders, continue to grant protection to those who need it, better support legal migration and integration efforts, counter irregular migration, and effectively and swiftly return those who have no right to stay.”
The Commission is proposing to increase funding for migration by 51% to reach €10.4 billion under the renewed Asylum and Migration Fund (AMF). The Fund will support Member States’ efforts in three key areas: asylum, legal migration and integration, and countering irregular migration and returns.
Read more: http://europa.eu/rapid/press-release_IP-18-4106_en.htm
