EU releases 28 mln USD in funding to support Greece in handling refugee crisis

The European Commission has awarded 25 million euros (28 million U.S.dollars) in emergency funding to the European Asylum Support Office (EASO) to enhance its capacity to further support the Greek authorities, a Commission press release announced here on Tuesday.

According to the press release, these additional resources will be used to support the implementation of the EU-Turkey Statement and the EU emergency relocation scheme.

The latest funding announced on Tuesday was part of the emergency response plan developed together by the Commission, the Greek authorities and relevant stakeholders to address the ongoing humanitarian situation on the ground and implement the EU-Turkey Statement reached on March 18.

The funding is provided under the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF) and will allow for the deployment of additional Member State experts and interpreters, and the set-up of mobile EASO offices in the hotspots to assist with processing asylum applications.

The press release also called on the European Union (EU) member states to quickly make available the necessary staff to help EASO deliver the planned support and give a boost to the EU relocation scheme.

Apart from the AMIF, which supports Greek national efforts to improve reception capacities, integrate migrants at local and regional levels and increase the effectiveness of return programs, there is also the Internal Security Fund (ISF) within the framework of EU financial support to Greece in handling the refugee crisis, which supports national efforts to achieve a uniform and high level of control of the external borders and to fight cross-border organized crime.

To support the Greek authorities as well as international organizations and NGOs operating in

Greece in managing the refugee and humanitarian crisis, the Commission has awarded over 262 million euro in emergency assistance since the beginning of 2015. (1 euro = 1.12 U.S. dollars) Endit