WIREDGOV

The Permanent Representatives Committee (COREPER II) on November 7 in Brussels has agreed on remaining issues of the Regulation laying down general provisions for the Asylum and Migration Fund and on the instrument for financial support for police cooperation which is one of four Home Affairs financial regulations of the EU multiannual budget for 2014–2020.

The agreement on the remaining provisions of the so-called “Horizontal Regulation”, proposed by the European Commission in November 2011, will complete the General approach reached by the Council and allow the Lithuanian Presidency to advance in the negotiations with the European Parliament with the view to reaching the agreement on Home Affairs financial regulations as soon as possible.

“These are very important financing programs. We have now paved way for the final adoption of the Regulation which is very important as it sets out the rules for EU funding for asylum and migration policy area as well as police cooperation to prevent and combat crime and ensure crisis management,” said chair of the COREPER ambassador Raimundas Karoblis.

Three outstanding articles of the Regulation were agreed by the Mixed Committee and then endorsed by the COREPER. The “Horizontal Regulation” provides for a common framework for the management of the Internal Security Fund for police and borders and the Asylum and Migration Fund. It should ensure the necessary coherence, simplification and uniform implementation of funding of these areas in the EU multiannual budget for 2014–2020.