Replying to a Parliamentary Question tabled by PN-MEP Simon Busuttil, EU Commissioner Franco Frattini gave a detailed break-down of all EU funds that have, so far, been made available to Malta in the area of immigration since Malta’s accession to the European Union.
The reply revealed that Malta has benefitted from EU funds in the area of immigration on 12 different occasions. The projects that were supported by EU funds ranged from residential facilities for immigrants to the financing of flights to return illegal immigrants to their country of origin. Organisations that benefited from EU funds included the Ministry of Justice and Home Affairs and the Malta Police Force but also non-governmental organisations such as JRS, the Emigrants’ Commission and the General Workers’ Union.
In his reply, Commissioner Frattini listed the following projects financed by the EU from which Malta has benefited.
European Refugees Fund (ERF) 2004:
The allocation was e113,966.70 but Malta requested a co-financing of e111,840.01.
The 2004 national programme covered integration measures. The following two projects were co-financed by the ERF under the 2004 budget:
(i) a residential facility for unaccompanied minors enjoying humanitarian and other forms of protection, managed by the Foundation Conservatorio Bugeja;
(ii) a residential facility for adults enjoying refugee status, humanitarian and other forms of protection, managed by The Emigrants’ Commission, a non-profit organisation.
European Refugees Fund (ERF) 2005:
The allocation was e536,748.47 but the Multi-annual Programme 2005-2007 and the Annual Programme 2005 are not finalised yet. For 2005, Malta receives five times more funds in comparison with 2004.
European Refugees Fund (ERF) 2006-7:
An amount of e613,261.96 will be received by Malta in 2006 and 2007.
European Refugees Fund (ERF) Community Actions 2004:
In addition, Maltese organisations participated in the following projects which benefited from EU funds:
JAI/2004/ERF/072 – ECRE United Kingdom (UK)
Partner: JRS Malta
EU co-financing: e231,168.70
The main purpose of this project was to record the experiences of refugees and asylum seekers who have sought protection in the European Union in order to highlight how people’s lives are affected by asylum policies and laws.
JAI/2004/ERF/074 – JRS Belgium (BE)
Partner: JRS Malta
EU co-financing: e53,860.00
The aim of this project is to train and educate persons involved in attending to the needs of asylum seekers and refugees in international, regional and national refugee and human rights law and standards, intercultural and inter-religious issues, and in the identification and response to psycho-social concerns of this vulnerable population.
JAI/2004/ERF/083 – IOM BE
Partner: Emigrants’ Commission, Valletta
EU co-financing: e302,662.25
The project aims at contributing to the joint efforts in the enlarged EU in facilitating sustainable return of asylum seekers through an integrated approach to voluntary return with particular emphasis on unaccompanied minors.
ARGO PROGRAMME 2005:
MiniWorkProgramme – Project 2005/MWP/01.
Budget allocated: e32,304.00.
Seminar on the proposed action plan for saving life at sea and in the desert (in the Mediterranean).
The aim of this seminar is to initiate dialogue between member states and Libya on the contents of the action plan.
Apart from this direct support, the Malta authorities benefited as partner/participants of support in projects implemented by other member states.
RETURN PROGRAMME 2005:
Project 2005/Return/012.
Member state: Germany.
This project foresees cooperation between Germany and another 11 member states, and involves joint return flights.
EU co-financing: e1,532,947.50
Partner in Malta: Malta Police Force.
The project foresees the organisation of four international collective flights for the removal of West African nationals.
Project 2005/Return/016.
Member state: Holland.
This project involves co-operation in return operations through joint flights. Holland is cooperating with another five member states.
EU co-financing: e1,182,632.50
Partner in Malta: Malta Police Force.
This project foresees co-operation in return operations through joint flights.
Project 2005/Return/033.
Member state: Italy.
EU co-financing: e675,893.60
Partner in Malta: Justice and Home Affairs Ministry.
Project foresees joint return flights, training activities and exchange of good practice in relation to return management.
Project 2004/INTI/089 – INSIDE CGIL Friuli Venezia Giulia. Italy
EU co-financing: e151,173.00
Partner in Malta: General Workers’ Union (GWU) Malta.
The project was designed to reinforce the integration of third-country nationals through employment and occupation. It aims to identify specific integration schemes through work.
Project 2004/INTI/104 – NIME – Gemeente Capelle aan den IJssel, Holland
EU co-financing: e550,423.10
Partner in Malta: General Workers’ Union (GWU) Malta
The project is designed to establish a new European Network. It includes a pilot project in Malta to promote a tolerant and inclusive society.
2005/INTI/061 – EUNET IN Stichting Kontakt der Kontinenten, Holland
Expected EU co-financing: e239,936.00.
Partner in Malta: SOS (Solidarity Overseas Service) Malta.
The project intends to actively contribute to integration in member states of third country nationals in the context of EUNET networks.
Important parts of the project are to exchange information, strategies, approaches and involved staff between the partner organisations; to select and formulate “best practices of integration”, to develop and implement pilot projects for better understanding about EU policies and practices; to improve access and participation into existing and new networks and develop long term cooperation relations.