NEW Technical Support Instrument to assist Member States with the preparation of their National Implementation Plans for the Pact on Migration and Asylum
Following the entry into force of the Pact on Migration and Asylum and the adoption of the Communication on the ‘Common Implementation Plan for the Pact on Migration and Asylum’, the Commission has now launched a dedicated call under the Technical Support Instrument (TSI) to assist Member States with the preparation of their National Implementation Plans.
In line with the Common Implementation Plan, Member States have to establish their National Implementation Plans by 12 December 2024. For this important work, they can count on the operational, technical and financial support of the Commission and EU Agencies, including through today’s TSI call. The TSI can offer Member States targeted support to carry out situational analysis and identify what needs to be done to implement the Pact. It can make recommendations across a broad scope of thematic areas.
Migration is a complex issue that requires a common European response as evidenced through the Pact on Migration and Asylum. With well-managed systems, migration can contribute to cohesion, growth, innovation and social dynamism. Within this policy area, the Commission helps Member States to design, implement and evaluate reforms for better management of migration flows and integration of third-country nationals.
Strengthening migration management, asylum and reception
A comprehensive approach to migration management is required to build mutual trust between Member States, to ensure the consistency of the EU approach on asylum, migration management, external border protection and relations with relevant third countries. At the same time, the effectiveness of the overall approach depends on all components being jointly addressed and in an integrated manner.
Until TSI 2024, in the area of accommodation and reception systems for beneficiaries of temporary protection and other third country nationals (TCNs), we have implemented 12 projects in 6 MS (AT, BG, CY, CZ, GR, IE)).
In the aftermath of the Syrian refugee crisis, we supported the Ministry of Migration and Asylum policy in establishing a permanent reception system for vulnerable asylum seekers, entirely managed by the state, with standards in line with the EU acquis. Moreover, the Commission supported national authorities with reinforcing their institutional and operational capacity to provide appropriate reception conditions and services to vulnerable asylum seekers.
Migrant integration and labour market inclusion
The integration and social inclusion of all migrants, including refugees, is crucial not only to foster the cohesion of our societies but also to ensure that migrants and refugees can reach their full potential in Europe. Many have necessary skills and talents to address skills gaps and labour shortages. Therefore, ensuring an effective integration and inclusion in the EU of migrants is a social and economic investment that makes European societies more cohesive, resilient and prosperous
Until TSI 2024, in the area of integration and labour market inclusion, we implemented 32 projects in 16 MS (AT, BE, CY, CZ, ES, FI, FR, GR, HR, IT, MT, NL, PL, PT, RO, SK), mainly to help national authorities coordinate actions at central, regional and local level; deliver quality services to migrants and refugees; and facilitate access to adequate jobs, thereby contributing to making the EU a more attractive talent destination.
We support Finland’s national and local stakeholders in coordinating, fostering and exchanging inclusive integration and anti-discrimination practices. The project, currently on the ground, supports the assessment and improvement of integration policies both at the national and local levels.
We are currently helping Spain developing a strategy for streamlining the labour market inclusion of TCNs, including through the use of a centralized online platform. The strategy will target talent attraction from third countries as well as TCNs already in Spain. The relevant platform will also facilitate the matching between skilled migrants and employers seeking workers with skills that are currently in short supply in Spain.
Talent attraction and retention
In the last decade, migrant workers accounted for a significant part of new jobs in the EU, helping to address labour market shortages. Such shortages increase the pressure on labour markets, undermining competitiveness and economic growth. In this line, legal migration can bring benefits to our society and the economy by accompanying the EU's transition to a green and digital economy. Labour migration not only has an economic dimension, it also improves overall migration management as it helps strengthen our cooperation with countries of origin.
Until TSI 2024, in the area of talent attraction and retention, we have implemented 10 projects in 9 MS (BE, CZ, DK, LT, NL, PL, RO, SK, SE). The TSI helps Member States to address challenges related to the shortage of a skilled workforce and enhance the capacity of authorities to adapt their legal framework and policies to attract international talent.
We support Flanders and Wallonia in managing economic migration, resulting in the supply of a well-qualified workforce that can meet the labour needs of domestic employers through the identification of global best practices, recommendations for improving regional attraction, retention, and migration governance frameworks, and capacity building activities.
We support the identification of measures to increase cross-border labour market inclusion of TCNs in the Greater Copenhagen Region. The TSI project will strengthen the capacity of beneficiary administrations in the Capital Region of Denmark and in Southern Sweden to analyze existing barriers to cross-border labour market integration and develop policies and measures that can help overcome them.
Contact details
Head of Unit Horizontal policies and migration
IOANNIS HADJIYIANNIS
Further details on the work
REFORM-01
ec [dot] europa [dot] eu (REFORM-01[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
Main contact point for applying for the Technical Support Instrument
REFORM-TSIec [dot] europa [dot] eu (REFORM-TSI[at]ec[dot]europa[dot]eu)
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