In the midst of the current situations in Calais and the Mediterranean, the European Commission today released reports on social media detailing how the European Union (EU) balances solidarity and responsibility with regards to its Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and Internal Security Fund (ISF).
According to the United Nations Refugee Agency (UNHCR), around 3,000 migrants have sought refuge in Calais and other regions of the northern coast of France, after fleeing violence and persecution in conflict zones such as Afghanistan, Somalia, Sudan and Syria.
Many of these refugees have made makeshift sites in the area, whilst others have attempted to cross the Channel from Calais into the United Kingdom. A subsequent rising death toll of migrants attempting to seek international protection has placed increasing pressure on the UK and other Member States to find a solution, with Jonathan Clayton of the UNHCR stating that gaps in EU procedure on asylum and reception have waylaid a "genuinely collective and far-reaching European response".
By contrast, the European Commission stated in a report shared today that the EU has the highest asylum standards in the world and reported that the Commission would be providing €7 billion of the AMIF and ISF to European migration and security challenges. The Commission also claimed that an extra €76.5 million was available in emergency funding, of which Italy, Spain and Greece were being prioritisied as top recipients.
The Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, through 27 programmes in 2014-2020, aims to support national efforts in the improvement of reception capacities, ensuring asylum procedures are carried out in line with EU standards; integrating migrants at various levels; and facilitating return programmes. The Internal Security Fund on the other hand only provides funds to Schengen members, and with 31 programmes intends to firstly retain high levels of control over external borders and support a common visa policy through its 'Borders' strand; and secondly combat cross-border organised crime and terrorism through law enforcement and risk management with its 'Police' branch.
One example of actions supported by these funds is the €134 million from the ISF to the stregthening of the integrated border management system of Germany, a country which according to a Eurostat report accounted for 32.4% of the EU's total share of asylum applications in 2014 making it the highest of any of the EU28.
Luxembourg's share for the same year stood at 0.2%, but due to its population size this represented 2.1 applications per 1,000 inhabitants, the same number as Lithuania with a smaller share of 0.1%.
Photo by EC
