NEWS | Wednesday, 18 March 2009

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Malta has only spent just over €18 million in two years from an allocation of over €126 million in EU funds for migration to be spent up to 2013
Following the visit to Malta by Jacques Barrot, EU Commissioner responsible for Justice, Freedom and Security, the Commission’s representation in Malta reiterated that the island had been allocated over €126 million in funds in the field of asylum, immigration and borders.
These included €112 million from the External Borders Fund, €3.7 million from the European Integration Fund, €4.8 million from the European Refugee Fund, and €4.7 million from the Return Fund for the years covering 2007-2013.
These amounts do not include additional payments for emergency measures under the refugee and borders funds.
Under the 2007 allocation, Malta is receiving €5.6m from the borders fund, and €500,000 from the integration fund. For the 2008 programmes, Malta is receiving €9.7m from the borders fund, €500,000 from the integration fund, €800,000 from the refugee fund and €600,000 for the return fund. An additional €416,000 was granted under the emergency measures of the refugee fund. Another €5 million is shared with Italy for actions under the borders fund.
Between 2004 and 2007, Malta could only benefit from ERF I funding, receiving €111,800 in 2004, and then under ERF II it received €536,700 in 2005, €613,300 in 2006 and €711,500 in 2007 – almost €2 million.
Malta also received financial support for return flights and repatriation programmes, as well as training and exchange of good practice on return management. Two programmes – joint return flights by the Police (DAR) and one for voluntary returns by the International Organisation of Migration – received €817,391.
Another Maltese project for providing welfare services in closed centres was awarded €307,158 in 2007.
The Commission said the amount allocated to Malta for the solidarity burden was “increasing dramatically and has reached now cruise-speed.”
“Compared to the very low amount allocated in 2004, the EU financial support reached a much higher amount in 2007 and in 2008.”

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