The European Parliament has approved two funds for asylum and border policies amounting to a total of 16.12 billion euros.
Cyprus will also benefit from the approved funds whose aim is to help manage migration flows, ease integration of third-country nationals and improve border management.
Specifically, from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, amounting to €9.88bn, to support asylum and migration policy, and the Integrated Border Management Fund, amounting to €6.24bn, for external border management that respects fundamental rights.
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.
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.
Rapporteur, Slovenian MEP, Tanja Fajon, said that “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,” she added.
After approval, the regulations on the funds will be published in the Official Journal. They will then apply retroactively from 1 January 2021.
(CNA)
