While Malta awaits sorely-needed tangible assistance and solidarity from its fellow EU members as it grapples with what can only be described as a mounting migratory crisis, the EU yesterday took a EUR380 million step toward combating the phenomenon in countries of origin and transit.
The European Commission yesterday launched a new programme to foster cooperation with third countries in the area of migration and asylum with a budget of EUR380 million for 2007-2013.
The programme is to cover the main aspects of the migration phenomenon including fostering the links between migration and development, promoting well-managed labour migration and fighting irregular migration and facilitating the readmission of irregular migrants.
The programme will additionally aim to protect migrants against exploitation and exclusion and promoting asylum and international protection.
The programme has been specifically adapted to capacity building and to encourage cooperation initiatives in which countries of origin, transit and destination will develop and share experience and working methods on the numerous aspects of migration.
The programme’s main focus will be on the southern and eastern migratory flows into the European Union. While the Maltese predicament is attributable to the southern, Africa-Europe flow of migrants, the EU’s eastern borders, comprising thousands of kilometres of land borders, are also hard-pressed.
The programme will release EUR205 million over the first four years (2007-2010). EUR70 million will go toward northern Africa and sub-Saharan Africa and EUR50 million will be provided toward the eastern migratory route (Eastern Europe, Russian Federation and Central Asia). Also coming in for funding, to the tune of EUR5 million, are the Middle East and Gulf countries (Eastern Mediterranean European Neighbourhood Policy countries, Iran and Iraq), EUR16 million for southern and eastern Asia and the Pacific region, and EUR16 million for Latin America and the Caribbean.
Five additional horizontal initiatives will also be implemented including EUR10 million for migration and development, EUR8 million for labour migration, EUR4 million for asylum and refugee protection, and EUR3 million each for stamping out smuggling of and trafficking in human beings and irregular migration.
The programme also includes EUR20 million with which to react to urgent needs and emergency situations related to migration which may appear in the countries eligible for the programme.
Following an evaluation that will take place in 2009, the programme will enter in its second and final phase in the period 2011-2013 with an additional allocation of EUR175 million.
“This programme is the visible expression that the Commission takes migration issues very seriously and considers it a priority in our relations and cooperation with third countries. I believe that it will contribute to a better and more balanced management of migration in a true spirit of partnership with other countries, which for us also includes the fruitful exchanges between our citizens and cultures,” commented Commissioner for External Relations and European Neighbourhood Policy Benita Ferrero-Waldner yesterday.
Commission vice-president Franco Frattini added, “At the start of the 21st century, migration and how to manage it in a true partnership with third countries is one of the key global challenges for the EU, its member states and countries of origin and transit. The new Thematic Programme for the Cooperation with third countries in the field of asylum and migration will provide the EU with tangible means to underpin and promote its global and comprehensive approach to immigration and asylum policies, as endorsed by the European Council.”