Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund: recommitment of remaining amounts or allocation of those amounts to other actions under the national programmes

2018/0371(COD)

The European Parliament adopted, by 480 to 124 against, with 21 abstentions, amendments to the proposal for a Regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and the Council, as regards the re-commitment of the remaining amounts committed to support the implementation of the Council Decisions (EU) 2015/1523 and (EU) 2015/1601 or the allocation thereof to other actions under the national programmes.

The matter was referred back to the committee responsible for inter-institutional negotiations.

As a reminder, the proposal to amend Council Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMFI) allows Member States to re-commit or transfer amounts within national programmes, through revisions to these national programmes, in order to promote EU priorities in the areas of migration and asylum, including relocation.

The main amendments adopted in plenary concern the following points:

  • part of the funding allocated in 2016 under Decisions (EU) 2015/1523 and (EU) 2015/1601 remains available in Member States' national programmes. Member States shall re-commit 20% of those amounts to actions in national programmes, for relocation of applicants for international protection or relocation of beneficiaries of international protection, or for resettlement and other ad-hoc humanitarian admission;
  • for the rest of these amount, where duly justified in the revision of Member States' national programmes, it shall be possible to fund specific actions in the area of migration and asylum, in line with the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund Regulation, notably in developing aspects of the Common European Asylum System, in particular family reunification or for supporting legal migration to the Member States and promoting the effective integration of third-country nationals;
  • the allocation of funds shall be carried out in full respect with the principles set out in the Financial Regulation, in particular efficiency and transparency;
  • the target group eligible for relocation as well as the countries from where relocation takes place shall be expanded to give more flexibility to Member States in carrying out relocations. Priority should be given to the relocation of unaccompanied minors, other vulnerable applicants and family members of beneficiaries of international protection;
  • with a view to implementing the principle of solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility and in the light of Union policy developments within the implementation period of the Fund, Member States shall receive, in addition to their allocation,  an additional amount based on a lump sum of EUR 10 000 for each applicant for international protection and beneficiary of international protection transferred from another Member State;
  • lastly, the Commission shall report annually to the European Parliament and to the Council as regards the application of resources for the transfer of applicants for international protection and of beneficiaries of international protection, in particular as regards transfers to other actions under the national programme and re-commitments.

Members insisted on the urgent need to amend Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 before the end of 2018, stating that the relevant funding will no longer be available for Member States' use under the national programmes supported by the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.