Asylum and migration: programme for financial and technical assistance to third countries, 2004-2008

The European Parliament adopted a resolution drafted by Giacomo SANTINI (EPP/ED, Italy) making some amendments to the Commission's proposals. (Please see the summary dated 17/11/03.) Parliament added that: - actions should include maintaining links between the local communities in the country of origin and their legal emigrants and facilitating the migrant contribution to the social and economic development of communities in their country of origin, including a facilitated utilisation of the remittances for productive investments and development initiatives as well as through support to microcredits programmes; - there should also support for targeted socio-economic reintegration of the returned persons into their country of origin, including the training and capacity building aimed at facilitating their integration into the labour market; - the financial framework for the Regulation for the period from 1 January 2004 to 31 December 2008 is set at EUR 250 million, of which EUR 120 million is for the period until 31 December 2006; -for the period following 31 December 2006, the amount will be deemed to be confirmed if it is consistent for this phase with the financial perspectives in force for the period commencing in 2007, in light of information available under the provisions of the act.�