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A more open and secure Europe requires adequate funding that is directed to those policy areas where we are facing collective challenges. Part of EU funding must also be dedicated to agencies and large-scale IT systems, which play a key role in implementing operational cooperation between EU States.
Growing competences
The share of Home Affairs in the EU budget is relatively small. It has been growing steadily in recent years, in parallel with the Union's enhanced competences in this field, which are reflected in the Stockholm Programme and the Lisbon Treaty. Currently, the Home Affairs budget represents around 0.77 % of the total EU budget and amounts to EUR 6.4 billion between 2007 and 2013.
Targeted programmes in support of migration, asylum and security policies
- About EUR 4 billion or 62 % of current Home Affairs funding is channelled through the General Programme "Solidarity and management of migration flows" (SOLID). This makes it by far the biggest delivery mechanism for Home Affairs policies. Currently, the General Programme supports actions in the areas of migration, integration, asylum, external borders and return. It comprises four Funds: the European Refugee Fund, the European Fund for the Integration of non-EU nationals, the External Borders Fund and the Return Fund. It also includes other instruments, such as the European Migration Network and the Pilot Project on Resettlement.
- EUR 745 million (12 % of the budget) is allocated to internal security. The General Programme "Security and safeguarding liberties" consists of two smaller programmes: Prevention of and Fight against Crime (ISEC) and Prevention, Preparedness and Consequence Management of Terrorism and other Security-related risks (CIPS). These programmes support actions that aim to protect critical infrastructure, reduce terrorist threats, fight organised crime and foster cooperation between law enforcement communities.
Support to EU agencies and large-scale IT systems
- Agencies account for 18 % of the current Home Affairs budget. FRONTEX has an extensive and crucial role to play in ensuring the effective management of the EU's external borders. Europol is a key actor in supporting and strengthening the actions of EU States' law enforcement authorities in their fight against organised crime and terrorism. CEPOL provides training for police officers around Europe to encourage the kind of information and knowledge sharing that is crucial to solving cross-border crime. The European Monitoring Centre for Drugs and Drug Addiction (EMCDDA) provides indispensible information at EU level on drugs and the consequences of drug addiction. The European Asylum Support Office (EASO) collects information to support decision-making on asylum issues as well as provides support to EU States whose asylum systems are under particular pressure.
- 7 % of the Home Affairs budget is spent on the management of the EU large-scale IT systems, such as the Schengen Information System (SIS), Visa Information System (VIS) and Eurodac.
Funding the external dimension of Home Affairs policies
External actions under Home Affairs are currently supported through geographic and thematic external instruments pertaining to EU International Affairs policies. In addition, a specific programme has been set up for cooperation with non-EU countries in the areas of migration and asylum (EUR 55 million annually, i.e. EUR 384 million for the period 2007-13).
EU funding for Home Affairs beyond 2013
The proposal for funding EU policies in the home affairs area were presented by the European Commission in November 2011.
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