According to the Article 21: Emergency assistance of the Regulation (EU) No 516/2014 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 April 2014 establishing the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund, amending Council Decision 2008/381/EC and repealing Decisions No 573/2007/EC and No 575/2007/EC of the European Parliament and of the Council and Council Decision 2007/435/EC, the Fund shall provide financial assistance to address urgent and specific needs in the event of an emergency situation, as defined in point (k) of Article 2. Measures implemented in third countries in accordance with this Article shall be consistent with and, where relevant, complementary to the Union humanitarian policy and respect humanitarian principles as set out in the Consensus on Humanitarian Aid.
According to Article 2, "emergency situation" means a situation resulting from:
(i) heavy migratory pressure in one or more Member States characterised by a large and disproportionate inflow of third-country nationals, which places significant and urgent demands on their reception and detention facilities, asylum systems and procedures;
(ii) the implementation of temporary protection mechanisms within the meaning of Directive 2001/55/EC; or
(iii) heavy migratory pressure in third countries where refugees are stranded due to events such as political developments or conflicts.
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 Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund
1. The Emergency Assistance of Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund has already financed an action of the Cyprus Ministry of Interior. The action that was implemented is related to the rescue incident of 337 Syrians who arrived in Cyprus on September 25, 2014 and were accommodated in the open reception centre of Kokkinotrimithia.
The European Funds Unit of the Ministry of Interior proceeded with a request to the EU and received a financial coverage of 100% for the needs raised during the abovementioned reference period. The expenses had to do with the feeding, the daily basic needs, transportation, medical care and interpretation services and psychological support of the 337 Syrians.
2. The European Funds Unit, in collaboration with other state services (Asylum Service, Civil Defence Department, Cyprus Police, Ministry of Health), submitted a request to the EU and received an emergency assistance under the Internal Security Fund, which concerns the co-funding of 90% of the project entitled: “Needs for staff, equipment and consumables for operating the First Reception Centre (Pournaras)”.
The purpose of the project is to transform the Emergency Reception Centre “Pournaras” into a First Reception Center, so that, during the short stay there of immigrants who entered the Republic of Cyprus irregularly , 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.