Following the adoption of the 2007 Work Programme for the new Preparatory Action Solidarity in Action, two call for proposals, accounting for a total of 14.000.000 €, are being launched today for actions in the areas of return of illegal immigrants, employment of returnees, information on immigration and reception challenges
Franco Frattini, Vice President and Commissioner responsible for issues related to Justice, Freedom and Security, stated that: “This new programme complements and financially underpins the EU policy which must adopt a comprehensive response to the management of migratory flows, a challenge which is constantly growing and evolving. The EU is facing a rapid increase in migratory pressure, especially on its southern borders. In response, the EU must therefore increase its capability to respond to these challenges through enhanced solidarity and burden sharing in the area of reception as well as in the cooperation between Member states in the field of return of irregular migrants.”
This new budget line was voted in December 2006 by the European Parliament in order to finance a number of actions in the area of migration which are complementary to the general framework programme entitled ‘Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows’ for the period 2007-2013, and which have the potential to provide additional answers to the challenges posed by migratory flows. The total amount available for this Preparatory Action is 15.000.000 €.
This new ‘Preparatory Action: Migration management – Solidarity in action’ contains various components which deal with the return of illegal immigrants, employment of returnees, information on immigration and reception challenges. The Return component is a continuation for a third year of the Return Preparatory Actions 2005 and 2006, in anticipation of the launch of the European Return Fund in 2008. It also aims at providing support particularly in view of the challenges being faced by Member States that are experiencing strong pressure on specific borders and on their migration management systems. The component on employment is introduced in this Preparatory Action in conformity with the request made by the European Parliament.
The calls for proposals published today will cover the following actions:
Assistance to reception challenges
The pressure of illegal immigration on the Member States situated in the Mediterranean and Atlantic region has reached an unprecedented high in the last two years, while, more recently, developments in migratory flows in the EU have seen a great impact by the Iraqi caseload on many Member States’ migration management systems. This has put enormous strain on the reception capacities and asylum systems of these Member States, thus requiring immediate and decisive action at both national and European level.
These actions are intended to offer timely, well-targeted and effective financial assistance in order to supplement the efforts deployed by the affected Member States to provide adequate reception conditions and appropriate, differentiated solutions for the persons involved. €7 millions are foreseen for this strand of the preparatory actions
Return, social and professional reintegration for returnees and preparation of information campaign on illegal immigration
In the light of continuous migration pressure and in order to maintain the credibility of the asylum and migration policy of the European Union, the aim of the ‘Return actions’ component of the preparatory action shall be to support the efforts made by the Member States to improve the management of return in all its dimensions, taking account of Community legislation and readmission agreements in this field. The development of co-operation between Member States with respect to return management as well as the co-operation with countries of return will be particularly encouraged.
Closely linked to the return actions, reintegration assistance in case of returns to countries of origin with which the European Community has concluded readmission agreements will be the object of priority attention.
Furthermore, this component also includes information actions at better preparing and/or enhancing the quality of information campaigns on the dangers of illegal immigration. €7 millions are also foreseen for this strand of the preparatory actions.
The Annual Work Programme also foresees the creation of a Portal on immigration information to ensure better access to, exchange and dissemination of information on various aspects of migration.
For more information about funds on the domain of migration management, please refer to: IP/06/1813 of 14 December 2006
The calls for proposals can be found on-line on JLS website:
http://ec.europa.eu/justice_home/funding/intro/funding_2004_2007_en.htm
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