Immigration: Commission steps up emergency aid to Spain and Greece

The European Commission allocated additional emergency aid of 45,6 million. euros to support Spain and Greece in order to meet the migration challenges faced.

In view of increased arrivals, or Spain will take 25,6 million. euro in order to improve reception capacity for arrivals on the southern coast of, and Ceuta and Melilla, and to assist in increasing returns. Extra amount 20 million. euro has been allocated to UNHCR United Nations for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve the reception conditions in Hellas, particularly in the island of Lesvos.

Mr.. Dimitris Avramopoulos, EOMMISSION Migration, Home Affairs and Citizenship, stated: «The Commission continues to implement its commitment to support Member States under pressure. Spain has been an increase in the number of arrivals during the last year and we must intensify our support to help in the management of the number of arrivals and the return of those who have no right of residence. Although the EU-Turkey statement has contributed significantly to reducing the number of arrivals in Greece, the country still faces significant migratory pressures, especially in the islands. It is now available emergency aid worth more than 1 billion. to assist Member States in managing migration. "

With new funding decisions reached an important goal landmark: in total, the Commission has now mobilized emergency aid worth above him 1 billion. euro to help manage migration under the current financial framework (2014-2020), support allocated to Member States most affected, such as Italy, Greece, Bulgaria, Croatia, Germany, Sweden and, now, and the Spain also.

Spain

• How much 24,8 million. euro has been allocated to the Ministry of Labor and Social Security and the Spanish Red Cross on a project aimed at providing healthcare, food and shelter for migrants arriving on the southern coast of Spain, and Ceuta and Melilla.
• further amount 720 000 euro has been allocated to the Ministry of Interior in order to help improve the quality of return facilities and for return transport infrastructure.

The emergency funding available in Spain is added to 692 million. allocated to that country for migration management, borders and security within the framework of national programs for the period 2014-2020.

Hellas

• The extra amount of 20 million. available to UNHCR will be used to assist the management of reception facilities on the island of Lesvos, to support projects of local communities and to provide further emergency accommodation on the islands.
• This amount will also be used to enhance the protection of children and informal education, and to prevent sexual violence and gender violence.

This funding decision is added to the financial support above 1,6 billion. EUR provided by the Commission from 2015 to address migration challenges in Greece.

record

The management of borders and migration are the Commission's political priorities Juncker from the start of its mandate, from the policy guidelines president Juncker July 2014 as the recent speech State of the Union to 13 September 2017.

However, the extent and urgency of the refugee crisis 2015-2016 surprised Europe. In order to prevent the humanitarian crisis and enable a joint response to this unprecedented challenge, and new security threats, The EU has used every possible flexibility within the existing budget for the mobilization of additional resources. Beyond the initial amount funds 6,9 billion. euros for TAME and TEA (Border police) for the period 2014-2020, an additional amount of mobilization was mobilized 3,9 billion. euro, that is, in total 10,8 billion. euros for immigration, the management of borders and internal security, without even including the large amount of funding has been mobilized to address the refugee crisis outside the EU.

Building on lessons learned, the Commission now proposes to double the funding in all areas, with the administration 10,4 billion. euros for immigration, 9,3 billion. euro for border management, 2,5 billion. for internal security and 1,2 billion. safer decommissioning of nuclear activities in some Member States, that is, an amount equal to 23 billion. euros in total. Furthermore, support of EU agencies on security, border management and migration will increase by 4,2 billion. euros in 14 billion. euro.

More information

Press release: EU Budget: the Commission proposes a significant increase in funding for the strengthening of borders and immigration

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