Concept Note
PROGRAMMA / LINEA DI FINANZIAMENTO:
EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL MIGRATION AND HOME AFFAIRS
PROGRAMMA: HOME/2014/AMIF/AG/ASYL
TEMATICA: ASYLUM, MIGRATION AND INTEGRATION FUND (AMIF) 2014-2020
TOPIC 1: CALL FOR PROPOSALS FOR ASYLUM ACTION GRANTS (ASYL CFP)
Background & Justification
The data presented by Eurostat "Population and social conditions" (3/2014) report of 435,000
asylum seekers in Europe in 2013 (with an increase of over 100,000 compared to 2012 and
further growth recorded in 2014), of them 1 of 4 is under 18 years (25.6% in the amount of about
111,000 UMAS newly entered in the EU), and 50.4% is aged 18-34 years; higher increases from
populations fleeing conflict contexts, mainly from Mediterranean border (Syrians, Afghans,
Eritreans, Somalis), but also from the eastern border (particularly Russians, Serbs and
Kosovars).
Focusing just on applications from citizens of non-member countries, there was a gradual increase in the number of asylum applications within the EU-27 and later the EU-28 through to
2012, after which the rate of change quickened considerably as the number of asylum seekers
rose to 435 thousand in 2013 and 626 thousand in 2014; this was the highest number of asylum
applicants within the EU since the peak in 1992.
This latest figures for 2014 marked an increase of almost 191 thousand applicants in relation to
the year before, in part due to a considerably higher number of applicants from Syria, Eritrea,
Kosovo (UNSCR 1244/99), Afghanistan and Ukraine and to a lesser extent from Iraq, Serbia, Nigeria and the Gambia
Asylum applicants from Syria rose to 123 thousand in the EU-28 in 2014, which equated to 20 %
of the total from all non-member countries. Afghani citizens accounted for 7 % of the total,
while Kosovans and Eritrean citizens accounted for 6 % and Serbians for 5 %. Among the 30
main groups of citizenship of asylum applicants in the EU-28 in 2014, by far the largest relative
increase compared to 2013 was recorded for individuals from Ukraine. There were also considerable increases in relative terms in the number of applicants from several African countries
(The Gambia, Eritrea, Senegal, Mali, Sudan and Nigeria), two Middle Eastern countries (Syria
and Iraq), as well as Western Balkan countries (Kosovo, Albania, and Bosnia and Herzegovina),
and large increases of applicants from unknown origins and Stateless applicants. The largest
relative fall in applicants, among these 30 countries, was recorded for Russia, as the number of
Russian asylum seekers more than halved between 2013 and 2014.
A number of factors play a role in determining where an asylum seeker will lodge his / her application. These include historical ties between countries of origin and destination (former colMod.34 Ed.2 Rev.0
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onies for instance), a certain knowledge of the language used in the host country, the presence of established ethnic communities, and the economic situation of the destination country.
These pull factors largely overlap with the drivers of other non-asylum migration flows. However, other factors such as the perceived likelihood that the destination country will grant a
protection status or the benefits connected to a protection status are specific to asylum seekers.
Syrians accounted for the highest number of applicants in 11 of the 28 EU Member States, including 41 thousand applicants in Germany (the highest number of applicants from a single
country to one of the EU Member States in 2014) and 31 thousand applicants in Sweden.
The number of asylum applicants in 2014 more than doubled compared with 2013 in Italy (an increase of 143 %), Hungary (126 %) and Denmark (105 %), while it has halved in Croatia (-58 %) and
Poland (-47 %).
Nearly four in every five (79 %) asylum seekers in the EU-28 in 2014 were aged less than 35 (see
Table 3); those aged 18–34 accounted for slightly more than half (54 %) of the total number of
applicants, while minors aged less than 18 accounted for one quarter (25 %).
This age distribution for asylum applicants was common in the vast majority of the EU Member
States, with the largest share of applicants usually being those aged 18–34. There was one exception to this pattern: Poland reported a higher proportion of asylum applicants aged less
than 18.
The distribution of asylum applicants by sex shows that men were more likely than women to
seek asylum. Across the EU-28, the gender distribution was most balanced for asylum applicants aged less than 14, where boys accounted for 53 % of the total number of applications in
2014. There was a greater degree of gender inequality for asylum applicants aged 14–17 or 18–
34, where around three quarters of applicants were male. Female applicants outnumbered
male applicants for asylum seekers aged 65 and over, although this group was relatively small,
accounting for just 0.8 % of the total number of applications in 2014.
The gender difference was even more apparent when considering unaccompanied minors, as
84 % of asylum applicants in the EU-28 in 2013 that were unaccompanied minors were male.
UNHCR has recently conducted assessments in several EU countries in which refugee men,
women, boys and girls have participated. These assessments have revealed what refugees perceive as key obstacles to integration. These include:
• difficulties due to lack of knowledge of local languages and differing cultures;
• discrimination and unreceptive attitudes towards foreigners;
• lack of understanding within host societies of the specific situation of refugees;
• psychological impact of protracted inactivity during asylum procedures;
• limited access to rights for persons with subsidiary protection.
Project Proposal
EUROPEAN COMMISSION DIRECTORATE-GENERAL MIGRATION AND HOME AFFAIRS 2015
Field-specific priority:
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Project applications under the present Call for Proposals will aim at identifying, developing and
promoting good practices pertaining to the following priorities:
1) identification of special needs of vulnerable asylum seekers related to the asylum procedures
and the reception conditions;
2) provision of legal and procedural information free of charge;
3) integration of persons benefiting from international protection.
The expected results are the development of good practices and exchange of information in
the above mentioned fields. To meet the priorities mentioned above, projects should achieve
one or more of the following outcomes (non-exhaustive list):
1) Under the priority " Identification of special needs of vulnerable asylum seekers , related
to the asylum procedures and the reception conditions":
 Exchange of information and development of good practices between national asylum
authorities, between them and other stakeholders (such as non-governmental
organisations and international organisations) on the identification of special
procedural and reception needs of asylum seekers.
 This can include actions related to the development of common or national indicators
and guidelines on this issue for asylum seekers with special needs in general or for a
more specific group within asylum seekers with special needs.
2) Under the priority "Provision of legal and procedural information free of charge" in 1st
instance procedure (Article 19 of the revised Asylum Procedures Directive ):
 Exchange of information and development of good practices between national
asylum authorities, between them and other stakeholders (such as non-governmental
organisations and international organisations) on the institutional and procedural
framework applicable for the provision of legal and procedural information free of
charge as well as the content of such information.
 Analysis of the impact of the provision of legal and procedural information on the
overall quality of the decision making procedure, including trends in the number of
appeals.
3) Under the priority "Integration of persons benefiting from international protection":
 Exchange of information and development of good practices between national
authorities, between them and other stakeholders (such as local authorities, nongovernmental organisations and international organisations) and between the latter on
issues related to new approaches on integration of persons benefiting from international
protection.
 This would cover one or several of the different aspects of the integration
process adapted to the needs of the persons benefiting from international protection
(e.g. cultural and language courses, preparation measures to the access to the labour
market, recognition of professional qualifications, training of staff dealing with persons
benefiting from international protection, etc.).
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Project’s Specific Objectives:
Exchange of information and development of good practices between national authorities,
between them and other stakeholders on issues related to new approaches on integration of
persons benefiting from international protection.
Co-applicant:
Potential country partners categories:
- Central Authority/local
- NGO (service provider)
- University
Italia:
- CIR
- Rete dei Comuni solidali
- Comune di Milano (Assessore Majorino)
- National Commission for Asylum ?
- National Association Italian Municipalities ANCI?
Potential European partners:
Sweden
Municipality of Sigtuna
Migration Sverter - Swedish Migration Agency
Netherland
Beyond Borders
National Dutch refugee council ?
Bulgaria
Nadia Fundation
Unhcr
BG EMN European Migration Network
Belgium ???
Caritas?
Municipality
National EMN NCP European Migration Network
Germany ???
Caritas?
Municipality
National EMN European Migration Network
European Network
ENGI European Network Guardianship
ELISAN
ESAN
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-
EUROCITY
We intend to consider best-practices implemented in Europe, on issues related to integration
considering different items:
1. - Reception and integration phases
2. - Mainstreaming
3. - Naturalization
4. - Housing
5. – Employment – financial support
6. - Adult and child education
7. - Health
8. - Public relief and social security
9. - Language learning and cultural orientation
10. - Building bridges and fostering participation
11. - Family unity and reunification
12. - Funding for integration
13. - Mainstream services can meet the needs of a diverse population
14. - Technical resources dedicated to services
15. – Psychological support (presence of ethno-psychiatrist, Posttraumatic Stress Disorder
expert ecc).
The planned activities are therefore:
PHASE I (months 1st – 12th): The WS1 Preliminary research will be aimed at gaining a deep
knowledge of the phenomenon through literature analysis, field research (using interviews and
focus groups), collection of persons benefiting from international protection life stories,
analysis of good practices, in particular new approaches on integration of persons benefiting
from international protection .
1. Desk analysis (law, national and European procedure, data comparison, projects and
models),
2. Building of a benchmarking system, for the monitoring and the evaluation of integration
process and indicators (social, linguistic, professional integration);
- Definition of Areas to investigate (thematic & geographic)
- Definition of Best practice for the Integration of persons benefiting from international
protection.
- Definition of a “Conceptual framework for the measurement of the path Integration”,
starting from basic protection, up to citizenship and democratic participation.
- Definition of social research methodology.
3. Field research (interview to migration association, single people and families, Institutional
projects..)
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PHASE II (months 6th – 18th): The second phase WS2 Exchange aims to collect and systematize
learning, suggestions and surveys carried out during the former phase in order to put them into
Intellectual Outputs, in particular:
1. Identification of the first 20 best national practices implemented by National and Local
Authorities.
2. International Call for civil society organization (Migrant associations, single person
benefitting from international protection,… ) aimed at collecting of national and local best
practices (through video, storytelling, ..). Identification of the first 20 best national practices
from CSo and International Organisations.
3. National and international peer review meetings discussed during online meetings for
comments, clarifications, integrations and suggestions to the other partners.
4. National round tables and seminars
5. International Platform with monthly online palimpsest for exchange and analysis of
methodology and best practices: it will represent a shared arena of discussion for the
partners and other relevant stakeholders.
PHASE III (months 18th - 24th):
The third stage WS3 Innovation is aimed at spreading innovative best practices, strengthening
the network systems among local services (provided by public and private actors engaged in
care, job and social inclusion of UMs), through the organization and the running of Multiplier
Events, in the form of workshops and public Conferences on the project’s topic.
Area
1. First international TED spreading ideas Conference on social Issues. Identification of the
10 main goals concerning Integration and Definition of an International strategic
Planning.
2. Elaboration of guideline, video and handbook on selected Best practices.
The requested amount of EU grant should not exceed EUR 750.000 and not be less than EUR
300.000. The EU co-financing rate requested cannot be higher than 90% of the total eligible
costs of the action. In principle applications should target an estimated duration of 18 to 24
months.
PARTNERSHIP’S FRAMEWORK
Only non-profit entities established in an EU Member State participating in the AMIF or
International Organisations14 are eligible for funding. This call will fund only transnational
projects designed, submitted and implemented by a partnership of at least three (3) eligible
distinct organizations established in at least three (3) EU Member States (i.e. the Coordinator,
who will submit the application on behalf of the Partnership, established in one EU Member
State + at least two (2) other distinct legal entities established in two (2) other EU Member
States). All members of the partnership shall be actively involved in the implementation of the
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project. Activities implemented in non-EU Member States are not eligible under this call and the
related costs will not be co-financed.
ELEGIBILITY CRITERIA
Each partner organization must fill-in and sign a Mandate letter to the main applicant.
Applications must be sent no later than the deadline for submitting applications referred to in
section 3.
Applications must be submitted in writing using the Application Form provided (including all
parts of the Application Package) and the PRIAMOS electronic submission system. Applications
must be drafted in one of the EU official languages.
DEADLINE
Project submission: May, 20th 2015, 12.00 p.m.
TIMETABLE
Stages
Date and time or indicative period
a) Publication of the call for proposals 05/03/2015
b) Deadline for submitting applications 20/05/2015 – 12:00 CET (noon)
c) Evaluation period May-September 2015
d) Information to Applicants September 2015
e) Signature of Grant Agreement(s) Autumn 2015
f) Starting date of implementation of the actions Upon the signature of the Grant Agreement
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