The European Commission has awarded €38.2 million in emergency funding to Italy to help address challenges resulting from high migratory pressure. The money comes from the Commission’s Internal Security Fund (ISF) and the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF). €13.5 million will be provided to the Italian Ministry of Interior to enhance border and migration management and support, in particular projects aimed at implementing standard operating procedures, reinforcing external border checks and border surveillance as well as strengthening health services and linguistic and intercultural mediation.
A further €22.2 million will be provided to the Italian Ministry of Defence (€16.7 million) and to the Italian Coast Guard (€5.5 million) to enhance their capacity for border surveillance and to rescue lives at sea, including through the acquisition of equipment, devices and services for search and rescue operations (SAR). Another €2.5 million will be provided to the Italian Ministry of Interior to support actions aimed, in particular, at catering to the special needs of unaccompanied minors.
With this extra funding, emergency assistance awarded by the Commission to Italy and to EU agencies, International Organisations and NGOs operating in Italy now stands at around €62.7 million. The emergency funding comes in addition to the €592.6 million already allocated to Italy under the national programmes under AMIF and ISF for 2014-2020.
