Member state solidarity must remain an important principle - Miriam Dalli

Dalli tasked with ensuring that over €500 million go towards measures that support solidarity in action

A substantial amount of funds under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) risk being lost unless these are recommitted towards measures that support solidarity in practice among Member States.

“Despite being specifically earmarked for the relocation of persons from EU Member States, over €500 million have not been utilised. This is a clear message that not all Member States believe in solidarity. This is unacceptable and frontline Member States like Malta must be supported,” Labour MEP Miriam Dalli said.

Miriam Dalli is currently leading the negotiations on the €10 billion euro Asylum and Migration Fund for the next long-term EU budget 2021-2027. In addition, the European Parliament tasked the Maltese MEP with leading the negotiations on the re-allocation of over €500 million from the current AMIF that were not utilised.

“Member States like Malta used this fund to fulfill their obligations under the relocation schemes because they believe in solidarity. Solidarity as a principle should not be sidelined simply because some countries do not care about what’s happening in countries in the Mediterranean,” Dr Dalli explained.

At the height of the migratory crisis in 2015, Member States had agreed to the relocation of persons in need of international protection as well as to the resettlement of Syrian refugees. For this, €843 million were earmarked with payments on these commitments to be made by the end of 2018. However, with the expiration date looming, over €500 million remain unused.

“It is important that funds are not lost and should be recommitted, but the original purpose of relocation should not be shelved,” Dalli said.

In the presentation of the draft report in the Committee for Civil Liberties, Justice and Home Affairs (LIBE), MEPs supported Dalli’s vision to at least commit a percentage of the available funds to relocation purposes, and opening up the rest of the funds towards the strengthening and development of the Common European Asylum System, legal migration, social inclusion and returns.