Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) 2014-2020

PURPOSE: to establish the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund taking over from the European refugee Fund, the European Return Fund and the European Fund for the Integration of Third-country nationals from the previous programming period.

LEGISLATIVE ACT: Regulation (EU) N° 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, amending Council Decision 2008/381/EC and repealing Decisions No 573/2007/EC and No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decision 2007/435/EC.

CONTENT: the Regulation sets up the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund for the period 1 January 2014 to 31 December 2020.

Objectives of the Fund: the general objective is to contribute to the efficient management of migration flows and to the implementation, strengthening and development of the common policy on asylum, subsidiary protection and temporary protection and the common immigration policy, while fully respecting the rights and principles enshrined in the Charter of Fundamental Rights of the European Union.

Within its general objective, the Fund contributes to the following common specific objectives:

·        strengthen and develop all aspects of the Common European Asylum System, including its external dimension;

·        support legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, such as labour market needs, while safeguarding the integrity of the immigration systems of Member States, and to promote the effective integration of third-country nationals;

·        enhance fair and effective return strategies in the Member States which contribute to combating illegal immigration, with an emphasis on sustainability of return and effective readmission in the countries of origin and transit;

·        enhance solidarity and responsibility-sharing between the Member States, in particular towards those most affected by migration and asylum flows, including through practical cooperation.

The achievement of the specific objectives of the Fund will be evaluated using common indicators as set out in Annex IV to the Regulation and programme-specific indicators included in national programmes.

The objectives must be achieved with due regard to the principles and objectives of the Union’s humanitarian policy. 

Eligible actions: the following actions will be eligible for financing:

·        reception conditions and asylum procedures: provisions for support services targeting particular categories of third category nations, improvement of administrative structures, systems and training for staff and relevant authorities; assistance for vulnerable persons, the establishment of alternative measures to detention; and material aid, including health and psychological care;

·        accommodation infrastructures: maintenance of existing accommodation infrastructure and services; strengthening and improvement of administrative structures and systems; development of new accommodation infrastructure;

·        actions relating to Member States’ capacities: actions enhancing the capacity of Member States relating to analysis and monitoring for early warning, preparedness and crisis management;

·        support for resettlement, transfer of applicants for, and beneficiaries of, international protection and other ad hoc humanitarian admission; development of national resettlement programmes and strategies;

·        support for integration measures for legal migrant, such as development of integration strategies with local and regional actors; provision of advice regarding housing, means of subsistence, administrative and legal guidance, health, psychological and social care, child care and family reunification; actions introducing third-country nationals to the receiving society and other capacity-building measures;

·        measures accompanying return procedures, targeting third-country nationals who have not yet received a final negative decision in relation to their request to stay, their legal residence and/or international protection in a Member State, and who may choose to make use of voluntary return (including the introduction of alternative measures to detention, improvement of return measures and operations in accordance with Union law but not including coercive equipment; specific help for vulnerable people);

·        information measures and campaigns in third countries aimed at raising awareness of the appropriate legal channels for immigration and the risks of illegal immigration.

Resources: the global resources (2014 – 2020) for the implementation of the Regulation is EUR 3 137 million divided as follows:

·        EUR 2 752 million for eligible actions in Member States;

·        EUR 385 million for Union actions, emergency assistance, the European Migration Network and technical assistance of the Commission, of which at least 30 % shall be used for Union actions and the European Migration Network.

National programmes and resources allocated to Member States: within the amount allocated for national programmes:

·        at least 20 % of the EUR 2 752 million to developing all aspects of the Common European Asylum System, and at least 20 % for legal migration to the Member States. Departure from those minimum percentages must only take place where a detailed explanation is included. Those Member States faced with structural deficiencies in the area of accommodation, infrastructure and services shall not fall below the minimum percentage;

·        EUR 360 million more shall be allocated to Member States on the basis of the distribution mechanism for specific actions, for the Union Resettlement Programme, and for the transfer of beneficiaries of international protection from one Member State to another.

In general terms, the Fund should create a flexible framework allowing Member States to receive financial resources under their national programmes to support the policy areas under the Fund according to their specific situation and needs, and in the light of the general and specific objectives of the Fund, for which the financial support would be the most effective and appropriate.

In the light of the European Council conclusions of 7-8 February 2013, which underlined that particular emphasis should be given to insular societies who face disproportional migration challenges, it is appropriate to increase the minimum amounts for Cyprus and Malta.

Resources for specific actions: apart from the amounts described above (listed in Annex I) an additional amount may be allocated to the Member States for joint actions on integration etc and used to implement the specific actions listed in Annex II.

Resources for the Union Resettlement Programme: in addition to Member States’ allocation, they will receive every two years an additional amount based on a lump sum of EUR 6 000 for each resettled person. The lump sum will be increased to EUR 10 000 for each person resettled in the case of vulnerable persons.

With a view to implementing the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility, Member States shall receive an additional allocation based on a lump sum of EUR 6 000 for each beneficiary of international protection transferred from another Member State.

Member States may also be eligible for lump sums for family members of persons transferred as above.

A list of common Union resettlement priorities is set out in Annex III.

Other eligible actions: the Regulation also provides financing for the following actions:

·        assistance for the activities of the European Migration Network

·        Union actions (monitoring and preparatory actions by the Commission);

·        emergency action as stated in the Regulation ;

·        technical assistance up to EUR 2.5 million of the Fund annually.

Coordination: the Commission and the Member States, together with the European External Action Service where appropriate, shall ensure that actions in and in relation to third countries are taken in synergy and in coherence with other actions outside the Union supported through Union instruments. They shall, in particular, ensure that those actions are coherent with the Union’s external policy, and respect the principle of policy coherence for development.

Implementation: the provisions of Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council will apply to the Fund, particularly with regard to programming, financial management, management and control, clearance of accounts, closure of programmes and reporting and evaluation.

Review: the European Parliament and the Council shall, on the basis of a proposal of the Commission, review this Regulation by 30 June 2020.

ENTRY INTO FORCE: 21.05.2014. The Regulation is applicable from 01.01.2014. Transitional provisions will ensure funding of actions undertaken during the course of the preceding Funds.

DELEGATED ACTS: the Commission may adopt delegated acts in order to supplement or amend provisions of this Regulation on lump sums for resettlement and transfer of beneficiaries of international protection from one Member State to another and on the definition of specific actions and of common Union resettlement priorities. The power to adopt delegated acts is conferred on the Commission for a period of seven years from 21.05.2014. The European Parliament or the Council may raise objections to a delegated act within a period of two months from the date of notification (this may be extended by two months.) If the European Parliament or Council express objections, the delegated act will not enter into force.