ASYLUM, MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION FUND 2014-2020 NATIONAL PROGRAMME
With a view to addressing common challenges arising in the area of internal affairs and taking a consistent approach to migration and security at the EU level, two EU funds have been set up for the financial period of 2014–2020. These funds are the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund (AMIF), which consists of the 2007–2013 European Refuggee Fund, European Funf for the Integration of third country nationals and European Return Fund, and the Internal Security Fund. Responsibility for implementation of the AMIF lies with the Ministry of Social Security and Labour.

The aim of the AMIF is to contribute to an efficient management of the EU migration flows, which is a part of an area of freedom, security and justice in compliance with common asylum, subsidiary protection, temporary protection policy and common migration policy.  Lithuania has been allocated EUR 8.1 million for the implementation of the AMIF during 2014-2020. The amount of national co-financing accounts for 25 % (EUR 2.7 million). in 2015-206 European Commission allocated EUR 6,7 million for the relocation and resettlement of third country nationals. In addition, during the same financial period Lithuania will receive EUR 1.5 million for technical assistance. It consists of AMIF calls of proposals for organisation, raising public awareness, dissemination of information, monitoring of project implementation, strengthening administrative capacities of administering bodies.

AMIF funds will be allocated to the following fields:

1) Improvement of Common European Asylum System;

2) Integration of third-country nationals and support of legal migration;

3) Organisation of return procedures of third-country nationals;

4) Relocation, resettlement and admition of third country nationals to Lithuania.

Target group: third-country nationals or stateless persons who have applied for asylum in Lithuania, foreigners granted asylum, third-country nationals who are legally residing in Lithuania (having residents permits), third-country nationals who have chosen to make use of voluntary return to their country of origin or who are subject to enforced return measures.

Decision No. C(2015)1731 of the European Commission of 20 March 2015 approved the Lithuanian national programme concerning support from the Asylum, Migration and Integration Fund for 2014–2020 (with latest revisions). The first calls for proposals have been announced during quarter II-III of 2015. The implementation of the projects has started.

The management and control system
Pursuant to the Resolution of the Government of the Republic of Lithuania  No. 149 the management and control (M&C) system for AMIF was established. Key functions in the M&C system performed by the designated authorities, whose tasks are separated.

The Responsible Authority (RA) is responsible for the successful implementation, monitoring, management of the AMIF national programme and handles all communication with the European Commission (EC).

The Delegated Authority is responsible for appropriate use of AMIF funds.

The Audit Authority assesses whether the RA complies with the designation criteria, drafts opinion in an audit report addressed to the designating authority, conducts M&C system and financial audits, as well as random checks of selected projects and technical assistance.

The Monitoring Committee conducts supervision over implementation of the AMIF national programme.

ERF 2008-2013

European Refugee Fund (hereinafter the Fund) provides a supporting instrument for Member States’ efforts to implement EU asylum policy. More specifically, its funding can complement, stimulate and act as a catalyst for the delivery of the objectives pursued, reduce disparities and raise standards.

Lithuania targeted the available resources under the Fund to at least the first two priorities listed below.

PRIORITY 1: Implementation of the principles and measures set out in the Community acquis in the field of asylum, including those related to integration objectives.

This should help to ensure appropriate reception conditions, fair and effective procedures and the full and inclusive application of the Geneva Convention for the target groups defined in the Fund as per the following Community instruments:

Within this priority, the Community contribution may be increased to 75 % for projects addressing the following specific priorities:

1. Actions aimed at taking into account the special needs of vulnerable people, notably unaccompanied minors, and more specifically measures aimed at improving the definitions and procedures applied by Member States to identify the more vulnerable asylum seekers and to provide an appropriate response to such needs;

2. Actions improving the identification of persons in need of international protection and/or the processing of their applications at the borders, notably by the development of specific training programmes.

PRIORITY 2: Development of reference tools and evaluation methodologies to assess and improve the quality of procedures for the examination of claims for international protection and to underpin administrative structures in an effort to respond to the challenges brought forward by enhanced practical cooperation with other Member States.

Within this priority, the Community contribution may be increased to 75 % for projects addressing the following specific priorities:

1. Measures designed to carry out an independent review on how the national asylum system works and how to make it more efficient;

2. Development of tools aimed to enhance consistency in national decision making on the application of the acquis, such as case-law databases accessible to all relevant stakeholders;

3. Measures designed to increase the capacity of national asylum services to cooperate with the asylum services of other Member States, and in particular to compile, analyse and assess information on countries or regions of origin for the purpose of sharing this information with other Member States.

The Fund in Lithuania will support actions relating to one or more of the following:

(a) reception conditions and asylum procedures;

(b) integration of persons referred to in Article 6 whose stay in a particular Member State is of a lasting and stable nature;

(c) enhancement of Member States' capacity to develop, monitor and evaluate their asylum policies in the light of their obligations under existing and future Community legislation relating to the Common European Asylum System, in particular with a view to engaging in practical cooperation activities between Member States.

Target groups:

For the purposes of this Decision the target groups shall comprise the following categories:

(a) any third-country national or stateless person having the status defined by the Geneva Convention and who is permitted to reside as a refugee in one of the Member States;

(b) any third-country national or stateless person enjoying a form of subsidiary protection within the meaning of Directive 2004/83/EC;

(c) any third-country national or stateless person who has applied for one of the forms of protection described in points (a) and (b);

(d) any third-country national or stateless person enjoying temporary protection within the meaning of Directive 2001/55/EC;

(e) any third-country national or stateless person who is being or has been resettled in a Member State.