Background

On 29 June 2011, the European Commission presented its proposal for the multi-annual budget for 2014-2020 with a view to responding to today's concerns and tomorrow's needs. Legislative proposals for each area covered by the next EU budget were published in the following months by the European Commission. The proposals were discussed by the Council and European Parliament during 2012-2013.

MFF 2014-2020

The President of the European Commission announced that "the deal includes frontloading of expenditure on critical issues like youth employment, research, youth, namely Erasmus, and also SMEs. The deal includes also the possibility for the countries that so wish to increase the aid for most deprived people."

As part of the MFF 2014-2020, the ‘Asylum and Migration Fund’ (AMF), which is the successor of the ‘European Return Fund’, the ‘European Refugee Fund’ and the ‘European Fund for the integration of third-country nationals’, will contribute to an effective management of migration flows in the Union as part of the area of freedom, security and justice, in accordance with the common policy on asylum, subsidiary protection and temporary protection and the common immigration policy. For instance, the AMF is expected to create a capacity of 100 places in reception and accommodation infrastructures which are in compliance with the standards of the EU acquis in 2014. Furthermore, it is expected to provide assistance in the field of reception and asylum system to some 100 000 persons, through integration measures to some 200 000 third-country nationals and to finance the effective return of some 38 000 persons.

Part of the resources provided under the AMF will also be used to support the ‘European Migration Network’.

Next steps

Final agreement with the European Parliament is still needed for the new MFF to enter into force in January 2014, and the approximately 75 legislative acts covered by the MFF package have yet to be formally adopted.

More information, including the press conference, statement from EU Budget Commissioner and key elements of the political agreement, on the webpages dedicated to the Multiannual Financial Framework 2014-2020.