The European Parliament and the Council of the EU agreed, on Thursday 10 December, on the European Fund for Border Management and Visa Policy, the European Parliament announced in a statement. The two sides agreed on a budget of €6.241 billion, which will be available for these policies for the period 2021-2027.
The fund will support European border and coastguards, the creation of reception centres and the interoperability of various IT systems, such as the Entry-Exit System, the Visa Information System, the European Travel Information and Authorisation System, Eurodac and the Schengen Information System.
MEPs insisted that 10% of funding should be allocated to visa policy in national programmes.
The European Parliament also claims to have succeeded in strengthening the provisions on fundamental rights. Actions under the instrument will be carried out in full compliance with the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights and its international obligations in the field of fundamental rights, in particular the principles of non-discrimination and non-refoulement, the statement adds.
Measures to identify vulnerable persons and unaccompanied minors are included in the Fund, which will also be able to finance actions in support of Member States issuing humanitarian visas. The European Parliament and the EU Council will still have to formally approve the agreement. (Original version in French by Solenn Paulic)