According to the Article 14: "Emergency assistance" of the Regulation (EU) No 515/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing, as part of the Internal Security Fund, the instrument for financial support for external borders and visa and repealing Decision No 574/2007/EC, the Instrument shall provide financial assistance to address urgent and specific needs in the event of an emergency situation as defined in point (f) of Article 2.

According to the Article 2, "emergency situation" means a situation resulting from an urgent and exceptional pressure where a large or disproportionate number of third-country nationals are crossing or are expected to cross the external border of one or more Member States or any other duly substantiated emergency situation requiring urgent action at the external borders.

Emergency assistance shall be implemented in accordance with Articles 6 and 7 of Regulation (EU) No 514/2014.


Actions implemented under the Emergency Assistance of Internal Security Fund

The European Funds Unit of the Ministry of Interior, in collaboration with other state services (Asylum Service, Civil Defence Department, Cyprus Police, Ministry of Health), proceeded with a request to the EU and received emergency assistance under the Internal Security Fund, which involved the co-funding of 90% of the implementation of the project with the title: “Needs for staff, equipment and consumables for operating the First Reception Centre (Pournaras)”.

The purpose of the project is the transformation of the Emergency Reception Centre “Pournaras” into a First Reception Centre, where, during the short stay of the immigrants who enter irregularly the Republic of Cyprus in the Centre, all the necessary medical exams to be contacted, the fingerprinting to be proceeded and the submission of applications for international protection (initial steps) to be supported.