The European Commission will allocate 25 million euros to EU member states to support the voluntary return of migrants who do not have the right to remain in the Union.
As they state in the European Commission, they want to use the funds from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) to support member states in the implementation of the program for the voluntary return of non-EU citizens who do not have the right to stay in the Union. The funds will be used to build capacity and support the voluntary return of migrants to their countries of origin.
Member states participating in AMIF can apply for funds until November 15. Therefore, all member countries except Denmark can apply for funds.
Brussels published the call for expressions of interest two days before Thursday’s European Council meeting, where migration management will be one of the central topics. As expected, the return of defectors who do not have the right to stay in the EU to their countries of origin will also be discussed, since at the beginning of the month more than half of the member states asked the European Commission to prepare a new legal proposal to regulate this area.
Commission President Ursula von der Leyen announced the preparation of the new proposal in a letter to leaders on Monday. According to the president of the European Commission, this will establish clear obligations for rejected migrants and speed up return procedures, including digitization of case processing and mutual recognition of members’ decisions.
As part of the preparation of the new legislation, she advocated, among other things, “examining possible ways forward in connection with the idea of establishing return centers outside the EU”. In doing so, it will be possible to use the experience with the work of centers for migrants that Italy established in Albania, she said, according to AA.
