As the European Union (EU) co-legislators are stepping up their efforts to reach an agreement on the next Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), the undersigned organizations wish to reiterate and update their priorities in light of the new Pact on Migration and Asylum. The present statement builds upon previous collective recommendations and concerns relating to the AMIF proposal highlighted in February 2019 and November 2019. The undersigned welcome the EU co-legislators’ efforts to advance the negotiations of the AMIF with a view to avoiding potential implementation gaps for EU-funded programmes in 2021. While we acknowledge the commitment to develop a balanced financial instrument that would support inter alia asylum, regular migration and integration policies in Europe, key aspects should be further adjusted to ensure that it meets its stated objectives, including one of solidarity. From the perspective of the undersigned, for the fund to support humane and effective asylum and migration policies, the following should be taken into account: 1. Fixed minimum percentages should be foreseen for the Fund’s specific objectives which may otherwise not receive sufficient resources in all Member States; 2. The Partnership Principle should be strengthened both at national and EU levels; 3. Resettlement should be expanded and remain a protection tool for refugees most at risks, and 4. Activities related to the external dimension should be limited and more clearly defined.

Secure funds for AMIF objectives: ensuring fair and adequate allocations of resources responding to Union priorities. 

The European Commission’s proposal on the AMIF fund does not require Member States to allocate minimum levels of funding to any of the Fund’s objectives, in contrast to the current AMIF requirements. Moreover, it does not foresee a specific objective related to solidarity. 

To ensure that adequate funding remains available for specific Union priorities including relocation, we strongly recommend a dedicated objective on solidarity and fair sharing of responsibility across Member States, in line with Article 80 of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union (TFEU). Linking such an objective to a dedicated spending target will ensure that funds for activities contributing to solidarity, including capacity building, will not be competing with emerging priorities. [...]