The European Parliament adopted a legislative resolution approving the Council position at first reading with a view to the adoption of a regulation of the European Parliament and of the Council establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
The proposed regulation establishes the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) under Heading 4 (Migration and border management) of the Multiannual Financial Framework (MFF) 2021-2027.
Objectives of the Fund
The policy objective of the Fund is to contribute to the efficient management of migration flows and to the implementation, strengthening and development of the common policy on asylum and the common immigration policy.
The Fund’s specific objectives are:
(1) strengthening and developing all aspects of the Common European Asylum System, including its external dimension;
(2) strengthening and developing legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, and promoting and contributing to the effective integration and social inclusion of third-country nationals;
(3) contributing to countering irregular migration, enhancing effective, safe and dignified return and readmission, and promoting and contributing to effective initial reintegration in third countries;
(4) enhancing solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility between the Member States, in particular as regards those most affected by migration and asylum challenges, including through practical cooperation.
Budget
The financial envelope for the implementation of the Fund for the period from 1 January 2021 to 31 December 2027 is set at EUR 9 882 000 000 in current prices and will be used as follows: (a) EUR 6 270 000 000 will be allocated to the Member States' programmes; (b) EUR 3 612 000 000 will be allocated to the thematic facility which will be used to finance high added value Union priorities or to address urgent needs in accordance with the priorities agreed at Union level.
Criteria for the allocation of funds
At the beginning of the programming period, each Member State will receive a fixed amount of EUR 8 000 000 from the Fund, with the exception of Cyprus, Malta and Greece, which will each receive a fixed amount of EUR 28 000 000.
The remaining budgetary resources will be distributed according to the following criteria: (a) 35% for asylum; (b) 30% for legal migration and integration; (c) 35% for the fight against irregular migration, including returns.
In the fight against irregular migration, including returns, the following criteria will be taken into account and weighted as follows 70% in proportion to the number of third-country nationals who are subject to a return decision and 30% in proportion to the number of third-country nationals who have actually left the territory.
Minimum funding percentages
Member States will have to allocate at least 15% of the resources allocated to their programmes to each of the specific objectives relating to the Common European Asylum System (CEAS) and legal migration, integration and social inclusion.
It is foreseen that 20% of the resources of the initial allocation to the thematic facility will be devoted to the specific objective on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibilities and that 5% of the same resources will be targeted at the implementation of integration measures by local and regional authorities.
Member States may deviate from the minimum funding percentages foreseen in their programmes in duly justified cases.
Third countries and the external dimension of the Fund
The Fund may support actions in or concerning third countries which contribute to the achievement of the Fund's objectives, provided that they are not development-oriented, are coordinated with other Union actions and are consistent with the Union's priorities and external policy.
Specific actions concerning cooperation with third countries and reintegration assistance may be supported through the thematic facility.
In addition, the Regulation provides that third countries may be associated with the Fund, subject to specific guarantees and agreements.
Resettlement, humanitarian admission and relocation
The lump sums to be granted to Member States are as follows:
- EUR 10 000 for each person admitted for resettlement, including family members;
- EUR 6 000 for each person admitted for humanitarian admission. This amount should be increased to EUR 8 000 for vulnerable persons. Their family members may also be eligible;
- EUR 10 000 for each applicant/beneficiary of international protection transferred from one Member State to another, including their family members.
The Commission may adjust these amounts by means of delegated acts to take account of inflation rates and developments in the areas concerned.
Operating support
A Member State may use up to 15% of the amount allocated to its programme under the Fund to finance operating support under the specific objective of the Fund.
Procedures for the adoption of implementing acts
Work programmes under the thematic facility will have to be adopted by means of implementing acts under the scrutiny procedure (with the ‘no opinion clause’).