The European Commission (EC) on Thursday decided to make available an additional €305 million in emergency assistance to support migration and border management in Greece, Italy, Cyprus, and Croatia, with Zagreb set to receive €6.8 million of the amount.

The Commission is making €6.8 million available to Croatia to help reinforce border management at the EU’s external borders, in full respect of EU rules, the Commission said in a press release.

“The Commission is committed to continue supporting Member States under migratory pressure. The additional €305 million awarded this week to several countries will address urgent needs by ensuring that new arrivals are accommodated adequately and have access to food and water, that the safety and security of the most vulnerable is guaranteed, and that border controls are strengthened where needed,” said the EU Commissioner for Migration, Dimitris Avramopoulos.

The funding is intended to help strengthen border surveillance and law enforcement capacity by covering the operational costs of 10 border police stations. A monitoring mechanism will be put in place to ensure that all measures applied at the EU external borders are proportionate and are in full compliance with fundamental rights and EU asylum laws.

“Today’s award brings the overall emergency funding for migration and border management allocated to Croatia by the Commission to almost €23.2 million. This comes on top of nearly €108 million allocated to Croatia under the national programmes of the Asylum Migration and Integration Fund and the Internal Security Fund 2014-2020,” the EC said.

Lion’s share of funding goes to Greece

The total funding will support efforts to increase reception capacity, protect victims of human trafficking, and strengthen border surveillance and management capacity, and Greece will be given €289 million for the following purposes: rental accommodation and allowances (€190 million), reception conditions (€61 million), search and rescue (€33 million) plus €357,000 to provide blankets, winter jackets, and other necessities.

Italy will be given €5.3 million in emergency funding, intended to help protect victims of human trafficking, while €3.1 million will go to Cyprus to step up its reception capacity.

(€1 = 7.4 kuna)

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