The European Commission has allocated a total of €45.6m in emergency assistance to tackle irregular migration challenges in Greece and Spain.
The funding aims to tackle irregular migration challenges which can arise in member states in periods of increased migratory flow into Europe; in particular, the funding will be delivered to improve reception conditions for migrants in coastal parts of Spain and Greece.
The provision of an additional €45.6m in funding to support refugees and migrants trying to enter the EU will bring the European Commission’s total contribution to more than €1bn in emergency assistance. Spain and Greece are among the EU countries most affected by irregular migration, with Bulgaria, Italy and Germany also having received large amounts of emergency funding.
How will the new funds be allocated?
A total of €25.6m will be allocated to Spain, with €24.8m being awarded to the country’s ministry of employment and the Spanish Red Cross to provide food, shelter and basic healthcare to migrants arriving on the southern coast of Spain. The remaining €720,000 will be spent to improve facilities and infrastructure for returning migrants.
Meanwhile, €20m will be allotted via the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to improve reception facilities on the island of Lesvos, including new measures to protect unaccompanied children, provision of non-formal education and efforts to tackle gender-based and sexual violence.
How does this support the commission’s efforts to tackle irregular migration challenges?
European Commissioner for Migration and Citizenship, Dimitris Avramopoulos, said that the provision of additional funding was a fundamental part of the commission’s responsibility to help member states in times of crisis or emergency, and emphasised that because the number of arrivals has once again begun to rise, the EU needs to increase its response.
He stated: “Spain has seen arrival figures increase during the past year and we need to step up our support to help manage the numbers and return those who have no right to stay. And while the EU-Turkey Statement has greatly contributed to lowering the number of arrivals in Greece, the country is still facing significant migratory pressure, in particular on the islands.”
