The European Council for Refugees and Exiles (ECRE) and the UN Refugee Agency (UNHCR) have recently published a report on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF).
The report, titled “The Way Forward – A reflection paper on the new proposals for EU funds on Asylum, Migration and Integration 2021-2027”, addresses the proposals of most relevance to beneficiaries of the current Asylum Migration & Integration Fund (AMIF) 2014-20, and those that are proposed to be implemented by Member States via ‘shared management’ arrangements (National Programmes). The paper is mainly focused on the proposed Asylum & Migration Fund (AMF) and European Social Fund+ (ESF+).
In particular, the report notes key risks and potential mitigating actions for the followings seven key areas:
- Integration Programming;
- Distribution of asylum and migration funding to Member States;
- Allocation of funds within National Programmes (Asylum & Migration Fund);
- Participation of third countries (Asylum & Migration Fund);
- Partnership;
- Access to funding for civil society organisations and local authorities.
Among its conclusions, ECRE and UNHCR paper suggests ring-fencing funding for migrant integration in the European Social Fund Plus (ESF+) and amending the proposed AMF distribution key to ensure that the distribution of funding maps onto national capabilities.
Eurodiaconia is also active in advocating for improvements in the proposed Asylum & Migration Fund. In particular, we are currently working on a paper including recommendations and amendments to the European Parliament’s proposals on this funding programme.
To know more about ECRE and UNHCR paper, please read the full document.