Brussels, 10/03/2016 (Agence Europe) - On Thursday 10 March, the European Commission announced that it had increased emergency assistance for asylum and migration by donating an additional €275.5 million to the Asylum Migration Immigration Fund (AMIF) and the Internal Security Fund (ISF) for 2016. AMIF will receive an additional €193.5 million and the ISF €82 million. The Commission has subsequently amended the 2016 work programme, explained a press release.
To finance this additional emergency envelope, AMIF and ISF funding included in the EU budget for 2016 but which has not yet been allocated, will be used. This announcement responds to the European Summit conclusions of 18-19 February, to increase humanitarian aid to Greece, as well as other countries along the Balkans route, explained the Commission. The emergency humanitarian instrument for Greece is currently being set up and is expected to be finished by the beginning of next week, explained one European source on 10 March. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)