Government wants to reap ‘better results’ from EU migration funds

Malta needs to adopt a new strategy for the use of EU funds on migration in order to make better use of the aid it would receive in the next seven years, parliamentary secretary Ian Borg said.

"It is evident that during the next programming period 2014-2020, a new holistic strategy for the use of EU funds for migration purposes should be developed if we want to reap better results than we have achieved so far," the parliamentary secretary for EU funds said.

Speaking during a public consultation meeting for all stakeholders, Borg said that the EU started discussing the 2014-2020 financial framework and Malta was the first country to enter bilateral negotiations with the European Commission on the implementation of the future asylum, migration and internal security programmes.

The parliamentary secretary said this would ensure that that Malta will be one of the first countries to benefit from the new programme.

Malta has so far received €85 million through the General Programme Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows fund. The EU programme is aimed at improving the management of migratory flows and strengthen solidarity between member states.

The meeting was held in order to identify Malta's priorities and how these can be addressed by the EU programme. Borg underlined the need to improve communication between ministries and beneficiaries in order to avoid duplication of efforts.

"Our efforts will be directed at maximising the funds available and this has been made clear to us by the Commission, unless there is a National Strategy on migration and asylum in place, Malta will not be able to make use of the available funds."

In the programming period which comes to an end this year, the programme consisted of four different funds, including the External Borders Fund, the European Refugee Fund, the European Fund for the Integration of Third-Country Nationals and the European Return Fund.

However, the new programme for the next seven years will be divided in two, the asylum and migration fund and the internal security fund.

The funds cover a period of seven years and the EU provides 75% of financing which can increase to 80% in the implementation of emergency measures.

While noting that discussions at EU level were not over, Borg stressed the need to focus on the priority areas and reiterated the government's commitment to listen to all stakeholders in its efforts to identify priorities and line up a national strategy.