Implementation of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in Poland

Subject: Implementation of the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) in Poland

There are several dozen active non-governmental foundations and associations in Poland which are engaged in integration-, migration- and asylum-related activities. The aim of their projects is to improve the physical and mental condition of migrants and refugees, as well as their legal and social situation. Most of these NGOs are financed by the AMIF. Nonetheless, funds for NGOs in Poland have been frozen without any explanation and only local governments now receive financial support. The last allocation of funds to NGOs took place on 7 October 2015. In light of the above, many organisations are thinking about ending their operations.

There is an urgent need to solve the problem of AMIF financing for NGOs in Poland.

Are there any mechanisms to put pressure on Member States’ institutions which do not implement the AMIF?

Is the Commission considering financing AMIF mechanisms directly at EU level in countries which are not cooperating on migration policy and have frozen the fund?

Is there any chance that in the coming years the share of the AMIF available at EU level will increase from 12 % to a higher amount and that it will be more accessible to single entities in emergency situations?

Answer given by Mr Avramopoulos on behalf of the Commission

(26 April 2018)

The Commission is aware of the difficulties non-governmental organisations (NGOs) in Poland face in accessing funding available under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and is in contact with the Polish authorities on the issue.

Open calls for proposals under AMIF, under which NGOs could apply, have been replaced by restricted calls directed to the local governments. The Polish authorities explained that the local governments have been involved in the implementation of the AMIF programme to ensure a broader geographical distribution of the funds. A recent restricted call relating to social affairs included possibility of partnerships by the local governments with NGOs. The Polish authorities informed the Commission that 7 out of 16 projects selected under this call will be implemented together with NGOs.

Another way for Polish NGOs to participate in actions benefitting from AMIF is to involve a partner NGO in another Member State and to apply to a transnational call for proposals for Union actions under AMIF. Such calls for proposals are accessible via the Migration and Home Affairs website (1).

In terms of Budget, AMIF represent less than 1% of the overall EU Budget for the multi-annual financial framework (MFF) period 2014-2020.

⋅1∙ https://ec.europa.eu/home-affairs/financing/fundings/migration-asylum-borders/asylum-migration-integration-fund/union-actions_en. | | ( | | )