Additional €1.1 million in emergency refugee funds

The European Commission approved an additional € 1,122,335 in Emergency Measures under the European Refugee Fund 2012 Annual Programme.

These Emergency Measures will be used for two initiatives aimed at improving the living conditions and health of asylum seekers and beneficiaries of protection in Malta.

The government said that the measures include the provision of improved accommodation by means of mobile homes as well as the provision of medical units and an X-ray machine to elevate the burden posed on the medical institutions for the treatment and screening of asylum seekers.

The assistance provided through the Emergency Measures are an acknowledgement of Malta's struggle against the large influx of immigrants reaching our shores, the government noted.  

Actions under these European Refugee Fund Emergency Measures have an EU co-financing rate of 80%. €1,272,698 were already allocated under the European Refugee Fund 2012 Annual Programme under the annual allocation approved for Malta in early 2012.

The 2012 Annual Programme is supporting various initiatives targeting reception conditions and integration of beneficiaries of international protection.  

The approval of the additional funds under the Emergency Measures together with the Annual Programme allocation brings the total allocation for 2012 for Malta under the European Refugee Fund to €2,395,033.  

The government added that for 2012, Malta has also been allocated a further €16,316,750 under other Funds falling within the General Programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows, the largest share being that under the External Borders Fund which is largely used to procure equipment and IT systems and software required for the protection of Malta's borders.

The allocation for 2013 under the same Programme amounts to €23,673,155.  The largest share of this allocation is under the External Borders Fund and the funds will be used for the purchase of equipment to protect Malta's borders.  These Funds are managed by the Funds and Programmes Division within the Office of the Prime Minister.  Calls for the 2013 Programme are expected to be launched throughout the year.