EU Parliament adopts two funds for asylum and border policies
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Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: €9.88bn to support asylum and migration policy
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Integrated Border Management Fund: €6.24bn for external border management that respects fundamental rights
The funds will help manage migration flows, ease integration of third-country nationals and improve border management.
The 2021-2027 Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (€9.88 billion) will strengthen the EU’s common asylum policy, develop legal migration in line with member states’ needs, support the integration of third-country nationals, and contribute to the fight against irregular migration. At Parliament’s request, the money should also serve to push member states to share the responsibility of hosting refugees and asylum-seekers more fairly across the EU.
More information about the objectives, priorities and budgetary allocations of the next AMIF are available in the press release published after the agreement with the Council.
With a €6.24 billion budget over seven years, the Integrated Border Management Fund is intended to help strengthen EU external border management while ensuring fundamental rights are respected. The fund will also contribute to a common, harmonised visa policy, and introduce protective measures for vulnerable people arriving in Europe, in particular unaccompanied children.
Read more on the main purposes of the border instrument and Parliament’s priorities regarding its implementation here.
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Rapporteur Tanja Fajon (S&D, SL) said:
“For solidarity to be at the heart of Europe’s migration and asylum policy, we need additional resources to support it. Today’s decision guarantees the EU is investing not just in the strengthening of asylum systems, but also in the fair sharing of migration pressures between member states.
As for border management, the EU’s borders in future must be efficient, digital, humane and safe. These new instruments guarantee progress towards this goal. Together we can bring border, visa and asylum policy back in line with our human rights obligations, notably with increased funding for search and rescue to aid those drowning on Europe’s borders. These investments will benefit not just the European economy, but society as a whole.”
Next steps
After approval, the regulations on the funds will be published in the Official Journal. They will then apply retroactively from 1 January 2021.
