Police cooperation, migration, asylum and combating crime: financial instruments

 

SUMMARY OF:

Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management

WHAT IS THE AIM OF THE REGULATION?

This regulation lays down common rules for the implementation over the 2014–2020 period of the three European Union (EU)-specific regulations setting up two Home Affairs Funds:

• the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF); and
• the Internal Security Fund (ISF) (which, in turn, comprises two funding instruments: ISF-Borders and ISF-Police).

KEY POINTS

Principles of assistance

The regulation lays down the rules for the implementation of these two Home Affairs Funds, including the guiding principles, such as compliance with EU and national law, and the protection of the EU’s financial interests.

EU actions, and emergency and technical assistance

Rules are laid down for actions financed by the Home Affairs Funds and implemented directly by the European Commission, or indirectly (EU actions – actions of benefit to the EU as a whole – and emergency and technical assistance).

National programmes

The rules for the preparation and implementation of national programmes are outlined, and the eligibility rules for these programmes that are implemented by the EU Member States. Rules on the way the funds should be managed and controlled are also set out. To ensure the careful management of EU funding, rules are laid down on aspects such as:

• how Member States appoint the bodies responsible for managing programmes and controlling spending;
• auditing of programmes;
• suspension of payments.

Information and communication, monitoring and evaluation

The regulation outlines the rules to be followed regarding information and publicity. For example, outputs of the projects funded with the Home Affairs Funds should be communicated to the public in a transparent way. Furthermore, it defines monitoring and evaluation methods, and sets out the dates on which the Commission should present the results of the funds to the European Parliament.

Implementing regulations

The rules and principles are further detailed in implementing regulations, adopted by the Commission, specifically dealing with technical aspects such as:

• information and publicity measures for the public and information measures for beneficiaries to increase awareness of the EU’s role in funding programmes;
• technical characteristics of information and publicity measures (e.g. the format of the EU’s emblem that should appear on the publicity material of projects that have received funding);
• setting out the models for the documents required for the payment of the annual balance (to avoid delays in preparing requests for payments);
• rules on the implementation of the procedure for annual clearance of accounts and for conformity clearance (i.e. detailed arrangements for these tasks including on the exchanges of information between the Commission and Member States, and deadlines);
• controls carried out by responsible authorities (to ensure efficient administrative controls of expenditure, including on-the-spot controls of projects).

Extending the eligibility of Member States’ expenditure

Russia’s unprovoked invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to a mass influx of displaced persons from Ukraine to several Member States, placing renewed pressure on the financial resources of Member States to deal with urgent migration, border management and security needs. Amending Regulation (EU) 2022/585 offers flexibility in the managing of the 2014–2020 Home Affairs Funds by extending their implementation period by 1 year. In addition, it also permits the exceptional use of unspent amounts allocated to Member States from the 2014–2020 AMIF to help them address new or unforeseen circumstances in relation to asylum and migration management.

Commission Decision (EU) 2022/1928 confirms Ireland’s participation in Regulation (EU) 2022/585.

Adoption of new funds package

Under the 2021–2027 multiannual financial framework, a new package of Home Affairs Funds was adopted:

• the AMIF, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1147;
• the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1148; and
• the ISF, established by Regulation (EU) 2021/1149.

FROM WHEN DOES THE REGULATION APPLY?

It has applied since 1 January 2014.

BACKGROUND

• EU home affairs policies have been steadily growing in importance in recent years. Their aim is to help create a more open and secure Europe. They seek to achieve this by efficiently managing migration flows and preventing crime, while enabling legitimate travel and ensuring the management of the EU’s external borders.

MAIN DOCUMENT

Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, pp. 112–142).

Successive amendments to Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 have been incorporated into the original text. This consolidated version is of documentary value only.

RELATED DOCUMENTS

Commission Decision (EU) 2022/1928 of 11 October 2022 confirming the participation of Ireland in Regulation (EU) 2022/585 of the European Parliament and of the Council amending Regulations (EU) No 514/2014 laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management, (EU) No 516/2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and (EU) 2021/1147 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (OJ L 265, 12.10.2022, pp. 81–82).

Regulation (EU) 2022/585 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 6 April 2022 amending Regulations (EU) No 514/2014 laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management, (EU) No 516/2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and (EU) 2021/1147 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (OJ L 112, 11.4.2022, pp. 1–5).

Regulation (EU) 2021/1147 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (OJ L 251, 15.7.2021, pp. 1–47).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy (OJ L 251, 15.7.2021, pp. 48–93).

Regulation (EU) 2021/1149 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 7 July 2021 establishing the Internal Security Fund (OJ L 251, 15.7.2021, pp. 94–131).

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/840 of 29 May 2015 on controls carried out by Responsible Authorities pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management (OJ L 134, 30.5.2015, pp. 1–5).

See consolidated version.

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/377 of 2 March 2015 establishing the models for the documents required for the payment of the annual balance pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management (OJ L 64, 7.3.2015, pp. 17–29).

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) 2015/378 of 2 March 2015 laying down rules for the application of Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council with regard to the implementation of the annual clearance of accounts procedure and the implementation of the conformity clearance (OJ L 64, 7.3.2015, pp. 30–32).

See consolidated version.

Commission Delegated Regulation (EU) No 1048/2014 of 30 July 2014 laying down information and publicity measures for the public and information measures for beneficiaries pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management (OJ L 291, 7.10.2014, pp. 6–8).

Commission Implementing Regulation (EU) No 1049/2014 of 30 July 2014 on technical characteristics of information and publicity measures pursuant to Regulation (EU) No 514/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council laying down general provisions on the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, prevention and combating crime and crisis management (OJ L 291, 7.10.2014, pp. 9–13).

Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, amending Council Decision 2008/381/EC and repealing Decisions No 573/2007/EC and No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decision 2007/435/EC (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, pp. 168–194).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa and repealing Decision No 574/2007/EC (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, pp. 143–167).

See consolidated version.

Regulation (EU) No 513/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for police cooperation, preventing and combating crime, and crisis management and repealing Council Decision 2007/125/JHA (OJ L 150, 20.5.2014, pp. 93–111).

last update 14.12.2022