EU countries will have to allocate more funds to improve their asylum systems and the integration of migrants, shows a press release of the European Parliament at the beginning of this year. More than €3 billion were allocated to the Integration Fund alone, in addition to the Internal Security Fund. The European Parliament will vote this budget between 10-13 March and member states should be willing to invest in promoting and supporting migrants’ integration.

€3.1 Billion for asylum, migration and integration
An agreement of European members of parliament, supported by the Civil Liberties Committee, provides a €3.1 billion Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) for the next 7 years. During 2014 – 2020, €2.7 billion will go to national programmes. €385 million will be allocated to EU emergency actions and technical assistance and to the European Migration Network. At least 20% of the amounts to be drawn by member states from the AMIF – about €2.4 billion – should be spent on measures to support legal migration and promote the effective integration of migrants. In addition member states will have to allocate at least an additional 20% of the funds to asylum measures.

€6,000 per resettled person
European MEPs believe they will succeed in increasing solidarity between member states in the field of asylum, as the resettlement of refugees from EU and non-EU countries will be eligible for AMIF funds. Therefore member countries taking asylum seekers under EU's resettlement programme will receive a lump sum of €6,000 for each resettled person, which can increase up to €10,000 for vulnerable persons or persons coming from priority areas. For the next 7 years €360 million will be allocated for resettlement.

€2.8 billion for the Internal Security Fund
The Civil Liberties Committee also approved the Internal Security Fund (ISF). This fund will support external border and visa management, with €2.8 billion funds up to 2020. €1.5 billion will be allocated to national programmes, €791 million to managing migration flows across EU's external borders, €154 to the Special Transit Scheme and €264 million to EU actions and emergency and technical assistance. The money will be used to build the necessary infrastructures and systems at border crossing points and for border surveillance. The programme will also fund the IT structures required by the European Border Surveillance System (EUROSUR), as well as actions aimed at the efficient management of migration flows, processing of visa applications and consular co-operation.
Expenditure Checks

The expenditure of the funds allocated to member countries will be subject to verification. On-the-spot expenditure checks will guarantee that money is used properly. The EU contribution to national projects will generally be up to 75% of the total budget.

Source: European Comission