Filenews 22 May 2021 - by Vasos Vassiliou
A total of €160m (€160m) was made in 2014. granted by the EU to the Republic of Cyprus during the last two programming periods for the handling of migrants who arrived in Cyprus, as shown by a reply by Interior Minister Nikos Nouris to THE MEPs of ELAM Christos Christos and Linos Papagiannis. The same reply also states that the total number of projects implemented/implemented in the 2014-2020 programming period is, to date, 147, with a co-financing rate of 90% from Union resources and 10% from national resources.
In more detail, the Minister's reply states that during the previous programming period the Republic of Cyprus had been given around €59 million, while for the current programming period 2014-2020 the EU funds amounted to €111 million. (88% increase over the previous programming).
According to the information provided by the Minister, through the Asylum Fund programme the situation from the funded programmes is presented as follows:
- EU resources budget: €39 million
- Project commitments: €36m (92%)
- Project expenditure statements: €27 million (69%)
- Number of projects implemented/implemented: 102
From the Internal Security Fund - borders and visas the situation is as follows:
- EU resources budget: €59 million
- Project commitments: €45m
- Project cost statements: €22 million
- Number of projects implemented/implemented: 31
With regard to Top-ups (additional funding), the following were provided:
- Additional amount for the Entry Exit System: €6.4 million
- Additional amount for the development of the European Travel Information and Authorization System (ETIAS): €3.2 million
- Additional amount for the development of the SIS recast system: €1.2 million
- Project carried out through emergency assistance from the Fund
Within the framework of the Internal Security Fund-police cooperation,:
- European Union resources budget: €9 million
- Project commitments: €8 million (89%)
- Project cost statements: €6 million (66%)
Additional funding from specific actions secured an additional €13.6m (€13.6m) in funding. (mainly for infrastructure such as the Tournara reception centre).
Nuri's reply to the MEMBERS of the ELAM also states that Cyprus is for the 4th consecutive year, the member state with the most asylum applications by proportion of the population. This is confirmed, according to Mr Nouris, by the national statistics themselves, as well as the relevant reports of EUROSTAT and the European Asylum Support Office (EASO). The Interior Minister also notes that around 70% of asylum seekers in Cyprus arrived via the green line and are being pushed through the occupied territories, coming from Turkey. Mr Nouris also informs Members that the number of applicants and holders of protection now reaches 4% of the population. At the same time, it states that for the two years 2019 - 2020 alone, new asylum applications reached 25,894 people.
Emergency aid budget
Several ministries have applied for and secured the following additional funds through the emergency aid envelope:
- A request from the Social Welfare Services for €1.8 million, which was recently approved (an amount of €1.92 million was approved).
- Request from the Legal Service of the Republic for €1.2 million under the AMIF financial tool, for additional staff and equipment with a view to speeding up the procedures for examining applications pending at secondary level (approved for €1.13 million).
- Request service date. 26 February 2020 for an amount of €3,6 million. EUR 3,6 million to strengthen the staffing of the Asylum Service and the Migration Department (approved for an amount of €3.6 million).
