Refugee Fund

Period: 2005-2010
Budget: EUR 670,09 million

The European Refugee Fund was first established in 2000 and this phase of the programme, running from 2005-2010, is an extension of the first programme (2000-2004). To ensure extension through 2013 and to bring the European Refugee Fund under the Solidarity and Management of Migration Flows Framework Programme, a third phase of the programme will take over on the 1 st January 2008. (For more information on the third phase, please click here.)

The European Refugee Fund seeks to improve the mutual understanding and common strategy among the Member States in regard s to the proper handling of refugees, asylum seekers and displaced persons. While the overall goal of the European Refugee Fund is to ensure Member States have appropriate reception conditions and fair asylum procedures that ensure the protection human rights, the following objectives can be identified in each stage of the Asylum process:

1. Reception Conditions and Asylum Procedures

• Provide material aid and medical or psychological care

• Offer social assistance and administrative support

• Provide legal aid and language assistance

• Offer education and training

• Ensure allocation of proper accommodation

• Inform local communities in the host country

2. Integration

• Provide social assistance (housing, medical/psychological care)

• Help the recipients adapt

• Work to increase participation in civil and cultural life

• Provide access to education or training (such as language training)

• Ensure refugees are given the tools needed to provide for themselves

• Ensure equal access to public institutions

• Encourage the local community, authorities and associations to integrate the refugees into society in a positive manner

3. Voluntary Return

• Gather information on the situation in the country of origin

• Provide information regarding voluntary return programmes

• Assist with reintegration

• Implement voluntary return programmes on a national level

• Work with the communities of origin in the EU to promote voluntary return

While a majority of the Member States are required to implement a number of the actions and objectives of the Refugee Fund programme, the Community is also responsible for promoting cooperation and may take the following action:

• Support transnational cooperation networks to promote the exchange of information

• Implement innovative projects based on transnational partnerships designed to improve asylum policy

• Hold transnational awareness-raising campaigns

• Utilize IT technology to assist the process

The groups targeted by the above mentioned actions and objectives include:

• Third-country nationals or stateless persons defined as refugees in accordance with the 1951 Geneva Convention and the 1967 protocol and who are authorised to reside as refugees in a Member State

• Third-country nationals or stateless persons who do not qualify as a refugee but are titled to protection

• Third-country nationals or stateless persons who have applied for protection

Note on the Budget:
The old Member States will receive EUR 300,000 and new Member States will receive EUR 500,000 per annum for 2007. Of the remaining budget, 30% will be divided among Member States in accordance with the number of persons protected and permitted to reside as refugees and the other 70% will be split according to the number of persons who have applied for protection or who enjoy temporary protection.