Source: European Parliament
1. Between 2021 and 2027, the Greek authorities are set to receive more than EUR 1.5 billion under Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF)[1], Border Management and Visa Instrument (BMVI)[2] and Internal Security Fund (ISF)[3], a large part of which is allocated for the reinforcement of police presence at the Greek borders[4]. Additional funding will be made available to Greece[5] for the implementation of the Pact for Migration and Asylum.
2. Under shared management, Member States are primarily responsible for the sound financial management of EU funds allocated to them. Member States have established management and control systems to monitor how the home affairs funds are used and they report on that to the Commission[6]. The Commission regularly monitors how Member States implement programmes[7] and carries out system and ex-post audits on the use of EU funding[8]. The Schengen evaluation of Greece has shown that the Greek authorities deploy a significant number of staff from other regional police units to Evros area using national and EU funding for staff redeployment and acquisition of mobile surveillance equipment. At the Greek-Turkish land border, the Greek authorities have implemented an integrated technical surveillance system to increase the detection and response capabilities. The Greek police has recruited and trained specialised border guards for border surveillance purposes in that area, with strong support of the Commission. The Greek army is also supporting the patrolling of the Greek-Turkish land border, including the Evros River, and the European Border and Coast Guard Agency (Frontex) has been organising permanent patrolling operations since 2010.
- [1] Regulation (EU) 2021/1147 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund.
- [2] Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 establishing, as part of the Integrated Border Management Fund, the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy.
- [3] Regulation (EU) 2021/1149 establishing the Internal Security Fund.
- [4] For more information, please visit the Managing Authority’s website: https://tamey.gov.gr/.
- [5] For more information on the resources to be allocated to Greece please find the following links (Section Thematic Facility: https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/funding/borders-and-visa-funds/integrated-border-management-fund-border-management-and-visa-instrument-2021-27_en , https://home-affairs.ec.europa.eu/funding/asylum-migration-and-integration-funds/asylum-migration-and-integration-fund-2021-2027_en . To be noted that resources will be also made available following the Mid Term Review of the programmes, in line with the relevant provisions of the specific Home Affairs funds Regulations.
- [6] In accordance with Articles 38 and 40 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060 laying down common provisions on the European Regional Development Fund, the European Social Fund Plus, the Cohesion Fund, the Just Transition Fund and the European Maritime, Fisheries and Aquaculture Fund and financial rules for those and for the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, the Internal Security Fund and the Instrument for Financial Support for Border Management and Visa Policy, s uch reporting is conducted through Annual Performance Reports and through Monitoring Committee meetings .
- [7] The Commission’s monitoring is carried out in accordance with Articles 38, 39, 40 and 41 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, which includes conducting Annual performance reviews. As per Article 45 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060, Article 34 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1147, Article 28 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1148 and Article 29 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1149, the Commission also performs a mid-term evaluation of the programmes.
- [8] In accordance with Article 70 of Regulation (EU) 2021/1060.