Background
Although the movements of persons into, out of and within each EU Member State vary, our societies share similar migration challenges and opportunities as well as security related issues. Therefore, EU States have joined forces through practical cooperation, information sharing and the synchronisation of national responses to migration and security threats; they have set up a common, comprehensive approach to migration management and police cooperation. This approach was underpinned by the General Programme Solidarity and management of Migration Flows and these were then followed up for the 2014 – 2020 Programming period with two Funds the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security Fund (Migration and Security Funds).
For the period 2014–20, the General Programme SOLID allocates almost EUR 4 billion to ensure the fair sharing of responsibilities between EU Member States for the financial burden that arises from the integrated management of the Union's external borders and from the implementation of common asylum and immigration policies. The two funding instruments that make up the Migration and Security Funds for 2014 - 2020 are:
Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF): The Fund will contribute to four common specific objectives, that is the strengthening and development of all aspects of the Common European Asylum System, including its external dimension; to support legal migration to the Member States in accordance with their economic and social needs, such as labour market needs, while safeguarding the integrity of the immigration systems of Member States, and to promote the effective integration of third-country nationals; enhance fair and effective return strategies in the Member States which contribute to combating illegal immigration, with an emphasis on sustainability of return and effective readmission in the countries of origin and transit; and enhance solidarity and responsibility-sharing between the Member States, in particular towards those most affected by migration and asylum flows, through practical cooperation.
Internal Security Fund (External Borders and Visas): The Fund will contribute to two common specific objectives that is the supporting of a common visa policy to facilitate legitimate travel, provide a high quality of service to visa applicants, ensure equal treatment of third-country nationals and tackle illegal immigration. While also supporting integrated border management, including promoting further harmonisation of border management-related measures in accordance with common Union standards and through the sharing of information between Member States and between Member States and the Frontex Agency, to ensure, on one hand, a uniform and high level of control and protection of the external borders, including by the tackling of illegal immigration and, on the other hand, the smooth crossing of the external borders in conformity with the Schengen acquis, while guaranteeing access to international protection for those needing it, in accordance with the obligations contracted by the Member States in the field of human rights, including the principle of non-refoulement.
Internal Security Fund (Police Cooperation): The Fund will contribute to two common specific objectives, that is crime prevention, combating cross-border, serious and organised crime including terrorism, and reinforcing coordination and cooperation between law enforcement authorities and other national authorities of Member States, including with Europol or other relevant Union bodies, and with relevant third countries and international organisations. While also enhancing the capacity of Member States and the Union for managing effectively security-related risks and crises, and preparing for and protecting people and critical infrastructure against terrorist attacks and other security-related incidents.
For the period 2007–13, the General Programme SOLID allocates almost EUR 4 billion to ensure the fair sharing of responsibilities between EU Member States for the financial burden that arises from the integrated management of the Union's external borders and from the implementation of common asylum and immigration policies. The four funding instruments that make up the General Programme SOLID 2007 - 2013 are:
External Borders Fund (EBF): Actions funded: Infrastructure and equipment for EU external borders and visa policy, national components of SIS/VIS.
European Return Fund (RF): Actions funded: Voluntary and forced return, joint return operations, cooperation between EU Countries and Countries of return, improving return management, reintegration assistance in the country of return.
European Refugee Fund (ERF): Actions funded: Capacity building (asylum procedures, reception infrastructure), integration of refugees, resettlement and emergency measures.
European Integration Fund (EIF): Actions funded: Provision of integration measures, such as language courses, courses of civic orientation, and pre-departure measures prior to their integration in EU Countries.
Through these instruments, the EU not only seeks to strengthen its common migration, asylum and border policies, but also to uphold European solidarity, so that those EU States that face the largest financial burden are adequately supported.
SOLID Funds in Malta
The Funds and Programmes Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto is the designated National Responsible Authority for the management of the General Programme SOLID 2007-2013.
The mission statement of the National Responsible Authority is to manage, in shared management with the European Commission, the General Programme SOLID by ensuring in a transparent manner, the optimal distribution and absorption of such funds amongst stakeholders whilst improving the management of migratory flows at the level of the European Union and strengthening solidarity between Member States.
Through these instruments, the EU not only seeks to strengthen its common migration, asylum and border policies, but also to uphold European solidarity, so that those EU States that face the largest financial burden are adequately supported.
Migration and Security Funds in Malta
The Funds and Programmes Division within the Ministry for European Affairs and Implementation of the Electoral Manifesto was the designated National Responsible Authority for the management of the SOLID Funds and is now the Responsible Authority for the Migration and Security Funds 2014-2020.
The mission statement of the National Responsible Authority is to manage, in shared management with the European Commission, the two Funds by ensuring in a transparent manner, the optimal distribution and absorption of such funds amongst stakeholders whilst improving the management of migratory flows and internal security.